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diff --git a/1604-h/1604-h.htm b/1604-h/1604-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..064f54a --- /dev/null +++ b/1604-h/1604-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6897 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Ebb-tide, by Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyde Osbourne + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ebb-Tide, by +Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyde Osbourne + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Ebb-Tide + A Trio And Quartette + +Author: Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyde Osbourne + +Release Date: October 5, 2008 [EBook #1604] +Last Updated: March 2, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EBB-TIDE *** + + + + +Produced by Dianne Bean, and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE EBB-TIDE + </h1> + <h2> + A TRIO AND QUARTETTE + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyde Osbourne + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'There is a tide in the affairs of men.' + </pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> Chapter 1. </a> + </td> + <td> + NIGHT ON THE BEACH + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> Chapter 2. </a> + </td> + <td> + MORNING ON THE BEACH—THE THREE LETTERS + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> Chapter 3. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE OLD CALABOOSE—DESTINY AT THE DOOR + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> Chapter 4. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE YELLOW FLAG + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> Chapter 5. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE CARGO OF CHAMPAGNE + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> Chapter 6. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE PARTNERS + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> Chapter 7. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE PEARL-FISHER + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> Chapter 8. </a> + </td> + <td> + BETTER ACQUAINTANCE + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> Chapter 9. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE DINNER PARTY + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> Chapter 10. </a> + </td> + <td> + THE OPEN DOOR + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> Chapter 11. </a> + </td> + <td> + DAVID AND GOLIATH + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> Chapter 12. </a> + </td> + <td> + TAIL-PIECE + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + Chapter 1. NIGHT ON THE BEACH + </h2> + <p> + Throughout the island world of the Pacific, scattered men of many European + races and from almost every grade of society carry activity and + disseminate disease. Some prosper, some vegetate. Some have mounted the + steps of thrones and owned islands and navies. Others again must marry for + a livelihood; a strapping, merry, chocolate-coloured dame supports them in + sheer idleness; and, dressed like natives, but still retaining some + foreign element of gait or attitude, still perhaps with some relic (such + as a single eye-glass) of the officer and gentleman, they sprawl in + palm-leaf verandahs and entertain an island audience with memoirs of the + music-hall. And there are still others, less pliable, less capable, less + fortunate, perhaps less base, who continue, even in these isles of plenty, + to lack bread. + </p> + <p> + At the far end of the town of Papeete, three such men were seated on the + beach under a purao tree. + </p> + <p> + It was late. Long ago the band had broken up and marched musically home, a + motley troop of men and women, merchant clerks and navy officers, dancing + in its wake, arms about waist and crowned with garlands. Long ago darkness + and silence had gone from house to house about the tiny pagan city. Only + the street lamps shone on, making a glow-worm halo in the umbrageous + alleys or drawing a tremulous image on the waters of the port. A sound of + snoring ran among the piles of lumber by the Government pier. It was + wafted ashore from the graceful clipper-bottomed schooners, where they lay + moored close in like dinghies, and their crews were stretched upon the + deck under the open sky or huddled in a rude tent amidst the disorder of + merchandise. + </p> + <p> + But the men under the purao had no thought of sleep. The same temperature + in England would have passed without remark in summer; but it was bitter + cold for the South Seas. Inanimate nature knew it, and the bottle of + cocoanut oil stood frozen in every bird-cage house about the island; and + the men knew it, and shivered. They wore flimsy cotton clothes, the same + they had sweated in by day and run the gauntlet of the tropic showers; and + to complete their evil case, they had no breakfast to mention, less + dinner, and no supper at all. + </p> + <p> + In the telling South Sea phrase, these three men were ON THE BEACH. Common + calamity had brought them acquainted, as the three most miserable + English-speaking creatures in Tahiti; and beyond their misery, they knew + next to nothing of each other, not even their true names. For each had + made a long apprenticeship in going downward; and each, at some stage of + the descent, had been shamed into the adoption of an alias. And yet not + one of them had figured in a court of justice; two were men of kindly + virtues; and one, as he sat and shivered under the purao, had a tattered + Virgil in his pocket. + </p> + <p> + Certainly, if money could have been raised upon the book, Robert Herrick + would long ago have sacrificed that last possession; but the demand for + literature, which is so marked a feature in some parts of the South Seas, + extends not so far as the dead tongues; and the Virgil, which he could not + exchange against a meal, had often consoled him in his hunger. He would + study it, as he lay with tightened belt on the floor of the old calaboose, + seeking favourite passages and finding new ones only less beautiful + because they lacked the consecration of remembrance. Or he would pause on + random country walks; sit on the path side, gazing over the sea on the + mountains of Eimeo; and dip into the Aeneid, seeking sortes. And if the + oracle (as is the way of oracles) replied with no very certain nor + encouraging voice, visions of England at least would throng upon the + exile's memory: the busy schoolroom, the green playing-fields, holidays at + home, and the perennial roar of London, and the fireside, and the white + head of his father. For it is the destiny of those grave, restrained and + classic writers, with whom we make enforced and often painful + acquaintanceship at school, to pass into the blood and become native in + the memory; so that a phrase of Virgil speaks not so much of Mantua or + Augustus, but of English places and the student's own irrevocable youth. + </p> + <p> + Robert Herrick was the son of an intelligent, active, and ambitious man, + small partner in a considerable London house. Hopes were conceived of the + boy; he was sent to a good school, gained there an Oxford scholarship, and + proceeded in course to the Western University. With all his talent and + taste (and he had much of both) Robert was deficient in consistency and + intellectual manhood, wandered in bypaths of study, worked at music or at + metaphysics when he should have been at Greek, and took at last a paltry + degree. Almost at the same time, the London house was disastrously wound + up; Mr Herrick must begin the world again as a clerk in a strange office, + and Robert relinquish his ambitions and accept with gratitude a career + that he detested and despised. He had no head for figures, no interest in + affairs, detested the constraint of hours, and despised the aims and the + success of merchants. To grow rich was none of his ambitions; rather to do + well. A worse or a more bold young man would have refused the destiny; + perhaps tried his future with his pen; perhaps enlisted. Robert, more + prudent, possibly more timid, consented to embrace that way of life in + which he could most readily assist his family. But he did so with a mind + divided; fled the neighbourhood of former comrades; and chose, out of + several positions placed at his disposal, a clerkship in New York. + </p> + <p> + His career thenceforth was one of unbroken shame. He did not drink, he was + exactly honest, he was never rude to his employers, yet was everywhere + discharged. Bringing no interest to his duties, he brought no attention; + his day was a tissue of things neglected and things done amiss; and from + place to place and from town to town, he carried the character of one + thoroughly incompetent. No man can bear the word applied to him without + some flush of colour, as indeed there is none other that so emphatically + slams in a man's face the door of self-respect. And to Herrick, who was + conscious of talents and acquirements, who looked down upon those humble + duties in which he was found wanting, the pain was the more exquisite. + Early in his fall, he had ceased to be able to make remittances; shortly + after, having nothing but failure to communicate, he ceased writing home; + and about a year before this tale begins, turned suddenly upon the streets + of San Francisco by a vulgar and infuriated German Jew, he had broken the + last bonds of self-respect, and upon a sudden Impulse, changed his name + and invested his last dollar in a passage on the mail brigantine, the City + of Papeete. With what expectation he had trimmed his flight for the South + Seas, Herrick perhaps scarcely knew. Doubtless there were fortunes to be + made in pearl and copra; doubtless others not more gifted than himself had + climbed in the island world to be queen's consorts and king's ministers. + But if Herrick had gone there with any manful purpose, he would have kept + his father's name; the alias betrayed his moral bankruptcy; he had struck + his flag; he entertained no hope to reinstate himself or help his + straitened family; and he came to the islands (where he knew the climate + to be soft, bread cheap, and manners easy) a skulker from life's battle + and his own immediate duty. Failure, he had said, was his portion; let it + be a pleasant failure. + </p> + <p> + It is fortunately not enough to say 'I will be base.' Herrick continued in + the islands his career of failure; but in the new scene and under the new + name, he suffered no less sharply than before. A place was got, it was + lost in the old style; from the long-suffering of the keepers of + restaurants he fell to more open charity upon the wayside; as time went + on, good nature became weary, and after a repulse or two, Herrick became + shy. There were women enough who would have supported a far worse and a + far uglier man; Herrick never met or never knew them: or if he did both, + some manlier feeling would revolt, and he preferred starvation. Drenched + with rains, broiling by day, shivering by night, a disused and ruinous + prison for a bedroom, his diet begged or pilfered out of rubbish heaps, + his associates two creatures equally outcast with himself, he had drained + for months the cup of penitence. He had known what it was to be resigned, + what it was to break forth in a childish fury of rebellion against fate, + and what it was to sink into the coma of despair. The time had changed + him. He told himself no longer tales of an easy and perhaps agreeable + declension; he read his nature otherwise; he had proved himself incapable + of rising, and he now learned by experience that he could not stoop to + fall. Something that was scarcely pride or strength, that was perhaps only + refinement, withheld him from capitulation; but he looked on upon his own + misfortune with a growing rage, and sometimes wondered at his patience. + </p> + <p> + It was now the fourth month completed, and still there was no change or + sign of change. The moon, racing through a world of flying clouds of every + size and shape and density, some black as ink stains, some delicate as + lawn, threw the marvel of her Southern brightness over the same lovely and + detested scene: the island mountains crowned with the perennial island + cloud, the embowered city studded with rare lamps, the masts in the + harbour, the smooth mirror of the lagoon, and the mole of the barrier reef + on which the breakers whitened. The moon shone too, with bull's-eye + sweeps, on his companions; on the stalwart frame of the American who + called himself Brown, and was known to be a master mariner in some + disgrace; and on the dwarfish person, the pale eyes and toothless smile of + a vulgar and bad-hearted cockney clerk. Here was society for Robert + Herrick! The Yankee skipper was a man at least: he had sterling qualities + of tenderness and resolution; he was one whose hand you could take without + a blush. But there was no redeeming grace about the other, who called + himself sometimes Hay and sometimes Tomkins, and laughed at the + discrepancy; who had been employed in every store in Papeete, for the + creature was able in his way; who had been discharged from each in turn, + for he was wholly vile; who had alienated all his old employers so that + they passed him in the street as if he were a dog, and all his old + comrades so that they shunned him as they would a creditor. + </p> + <p> + Not long before, a ship from Peru had brought an influenza, and it now + raged in the island, and particularly in Papeete. From all round the purao + arose and fell a dismal sound of men coughing, and strangling as they + coughed. The sick natives, with the islander's impatience of a touch of + fever, had crawled from their houses to be cool and, squatting on the + shore or on the beached canoes, painfully expected the new day. Even as + the crowing of cocks goes about the country in the night from farm to + farm, accesses of coughing arose, and spread, and died in the distance, + and sprang up again. Each miserable shiverer caught the suggestion from + his neighbour, was torn for some minutes by that cruel ecstasy, and left + spent and without voice or courage when it passed. If a man had pity to + spend, Papeete beach, in that cold night and in that infected season, was + a place to spend it on. And of all the sufferers, perhaps the least + deserving, but surely the most pitiable, was the London clerk. He was used + to another life, to houses, beds, nursing, and the dainties of the + sickroom; he lay there now, in the cold open, exposed to the gusting of + the wind, and with an empty belly. He was besides infirm; the disease + shook him to the vitals; and his companions watched his endurance with + surprise. A profound commiseration filled them, and contended with and + conquered their abhorrence. The disgust attendant on so ugly a sickness + magnified this dislike; at the same time, and with more than compensating + strength, shame for a sentiment so inhuman bound them the more straitly to + his service; and even the evil they knew of him swelled their solicitude, + for the thought of death is always the least supportable when it draws + near to the merely sensual and selfish. Sometimes they held him up; + sometimes, with mistaken helpfulness, they beat him between the shoulders; + and when the poor wretch lay back ghastly and spent after a paroxysm of + coughing, they would sometimes peer into his face, doubtfully exploring it + for any mark of life. There is no one but has some virtue: that of the + clerk was courage; and he would make haste to reassure them in a + pleasantry not always decent. + </p> + <p> + 'I'm all right, pals,' he gasped once: 'this is the thing to strengthen + the muscles of the larynx.' + </p> + <p> + 'Well, you take the cake!' cried the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'O, I'm good plucked enough,' pursued the sufferer with a broken + utterance. 'But it do seem bloomin' hard to me, that I should be the only + party down with this form of vice, and the only one to do the funny + business. I think one of you other parties might wake up. Tell a fellow + something.' + </p> + <p> + 'The trouble is we've nothing to tell, my son,' returned the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'I'll tell you, if you like, what I was thinking,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Tell us anything,' said the clerk, 'I only want to be reminded that I + ain't dead.' + </p> + <p> + Herrick took up his parable, lying on his face and speaking slowly and + scarce above his breath, not like a man who has anything to say, but like + one talking against time. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, I was thinking this,' he began: 'I was thinking I lay on Papeete + beach one night—all moon and squalls and fellows coughing—and + I was cold and hungry, and down in the mouth, and was about ninety years + of age, and had spent two hundred and twenty of them on Papeete beach. And + I was thinking I wished I had a ring to rub, or had a fairy godmother, or + could raise Beelzebub. And I was trying to remember how you did it. I knew + you made a ring of skulls, for I had seen that in the Freischutz: and that + you took off your coat and turned up your sleeves, for I had seen Formes + do that when he was playing Kaspar, and you could see (by the way he went + about it) it was a business he had studied; and that you ought to have + something to kick up a smoke and a bad smell, I dare say a cigar might do, + and that you ought to say the Lord's Prayer backwards. Well, I wondered if + I could do that; it seemed rather a feat, you see. And then I wondered if + I would say it forward, and I thought I did. Well, no sooner had I got to + WORLD WITHOUT END, than I saw a man in a pariu, and with a mat under his + arm, come along the beach from the town. He was rather a hard-favoured old + party, and he limped and crippled, and all the time he kept coughing. At + first I didn't cotton to his looks, I thought, and then I got sorry for + the old soul because he coughed so hard. I remembered that we had some of + that cough mixture the American consul gave the captain for Hay. It never + did Hay a ha'porth of service, but I thought it might do the old + gentleman's business for him, and stood up. “Yorana!” says I. “Yorana!” + says he. “Look here,” I said, “I've got some first-rate stuff in a bottle; + it'll fix your cough, savvy? <i>Haere mai</i> and I'll measure you a tablespoonful + in the palm of my hand, for all our plate is at the bankers.” So I thought + the old party came up, and the nearer he came, the less I took to him. But + I had passed my word, you see.' + </p> + <p> + 'Wot is this bloomin' drivel?' interrupted the clerk. 'It's like the rot + there is in tracts.' + </p> + <p> + 'It's a story; I used to tell them to the kids at home,' said Herrick. 'If + it bores you, I'll drop it.' + </p> + <p> + 'O, cut along!' returned the sick man, irritably. 'It's better than + nothing.' + </p> + <p> + 'Well,' continued Herrick, 'I had no sooner given him the cough mixture + than he seemed to straighten up and change, and I saw he wasn't a Tahitian + after all, but some kind of Arab, and had a long beard on his chin. “One + good turn deserves another,” says he. “I am a magician out of the Arabian + Nights, and this mat that I have under my arm is the original carpet of + Mohammed Ben Somebody-or-other. Say the word, and you can have a cruise + upon the carpet.” “You don't mean to say this is the Travelling Carpet?” I + cried. “You bet I do,” said he. “You've been to America since last I read + the Arabian Nights,” said I, a little suspicious. “I should think so,” + said he. “Been everywhere. A man with a carpet like this isn't going to + moulder in a semi-detached villa.” Well, that struck me as reasonable. + “All right,” I said; “and do you mean to tell me I can get on that carpet + and go straight to London, England?” I said, “London, England,” captain, + because he seemed to have been so long in your part of the world. “In the + crack of a whip,” said he. I figured up the time. What is the difference + between Papeete and London, captain?' + </p> + <p> + 'Taking Greenwich and Point Venus, nine hours, odd minutes and seconds,' + replied the mariner. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, that's about what I made it,' resumed Herrick, 'about nine hours. + Calling this three in the morning, I made out I would drop into London + about noon; and the idea tickled me immensely. “There's only one bother,” + I said, “I haven't a copper cent. It would be a pity to go to London and + not buy the morning Standard.” “O!” said he, “you don't realise the + conveniences of this carpet. You see this pocket? you've only got to stick + your hand in, and you pull it out filled with sovereigns.” + </p> + <p> + 'Double-eagles, wasn't iff inquired the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'That was what it was!' cried Herrick. 'I thought they seemed unusually + big, and I remember now I had to go to the money-changers at Charing Cross + and get English silver.' + </p> + <p> + 'O, you went there?' said the clerk. 'Wot did you do? Bet you had a B. and + S.!' + </p> + <p> + 'Well, you see, it was just as the old boy said—like the cut of a + whip,' said Herrick. 'The one minute I was here on the beach at three in + the morning, the next I was in front of the Golden Cross at midday. At + first I was dazzled, and covered my eyes, and there didn't seem the + smallest change; the roar of the Strand and the roar of the reef were like + the same: hark to it now, and you can hear the cabs and buses rolling and + the streets resound! And then at last I could look about, and there was + the old place, and no mistake! With the statues in the square, and St + Martin's-in-the-Fields, and the bobbies, and the sparrows, and the hacks; + and I can't tell you what I felt like. I felt like crying, I believe, or + dancing, or jumping clean over the Nelson Column. I was like a fellow + caught up out of Hell and flung down into the dandiest part of Heaven. + Then I spotted for a hansom with a spanking horse. “A shilling for + yourself, if you're there in twenty minutes!” said I to the jarvey. He + went a good pace, though of course it was a trifle to the carpet; and in + nineteen minutes and a half I was at the door.' + </p> + <p> + 'What door?' asked the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, a house I know of,' returned Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'But it was a public-house!' cried the clerk—only these were not his + words. 'And w'y didn't you take the carpet there instead of trundling in a + growler?' + </p> + <p> + 'I didn't want to startle a quiet street,' said the narrator. + </p> + <p> + 'Bad form. And besides, it was a hansom.' + </p> + <p> + 'Well, and what did you do next?' inquired the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, I went in,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'The old folks?' asked the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'That's about it,' said the other, chewing a grass. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, I think you are about the poorest 'and at a yarn!' cried the clerk. + 'Crikey, it's like Ministering Children! I can tell you there would be + more beer and skittles about my little jaunt. I would go and have a B. and + S. for luck. Then I would get a big ulster with astrakhan fur, and take my + cane and do the la-de-la down Piccadilly. Then I would go to a slap-up + restaurant, and have green peas, and a bottle of fizz, and a chump chop—Oh! + and I forgot, I'd 'ave some devilled whitebait first—and green + gooseberry tart, and 'ot coffee, and some of that form of vice in big + bottles with a seal—Benedictine—that's the bloomin' nyme! Then + I'd drop into a theatre, and pal on with some chappies, and do the dancing + rooms and bars, and that, and wouldn't go 'ome till morning, till daylight + doth appear. And the next day I'd have water-cresses, 'am, muffin, and + fresh butter; wouldn't I just, O my!' + </p> + <p> + The clerk was interrupted by a fresh attack of coughing. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, now, I'll tell you what I would do,' said the captain: 'I would + have none of your fancy rigs with the man driving from the mizzen + cross-trees, but a plain fore-and-aft hack cab of the highest registered + tonnage. First of all, I would bring up at the market and get a turkey and + a sucking-pig. Then I'd go to a wine merchant's and get a dozen of + champagne, and a dozen of some sweet wine, rich and sticky and strong, + something in the port or madeira line, the best in the store. Then I'd + bear up for a toy-store, and lay out twenty dollars in assorted toys for + the piccaninnies; and then to a confectioner's and take in cakes and pies + and fancy bread, and that stuff with the plums in it; and then to a + news-agency and buy all the papers, all the picture ones for the kids, and + all the story papers for the old girl about the Earl discovering himself + to Anna-Mariar and the escape of the Lady Maude from the private madhouse; + and then I'd tell the fellow to drive home.' + </p> + <p> + 'There ought to be some syrup for the kids,' suggested Herrick; 'they like + syrup.' + </p> + <p> + 'Yes, syrup for the kids, red syrup at that!' said the captain. 'And those + things they pull at, and go pop, and have measly poetry inside. And then I + tell you we'd have a thanksgiving day and Christmas tree combined. Great + Scott, but I would like to see the kids! I guess they would light right + out of the house, when they saw daddy driving up. My little Adar—' + </p> + <p> + The captain stopped sharply. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, keep it up!' said the clerk. + </p> + <p> + 'The damned thing is, I don't know if they ain't starving!' cried the + captain. + </p> + <p> + 'They can't be worse off than we are, and that's one comfort,' returned + the clerk. 'I defy the devil to make me worse off.' + </p> + <p> + It seemed as if the devil heard him. The light of the moon had been some + time cut off and they had talked in darkness. Now there was heard a roar, + which drew impetuously nearer; the face of the lagoon was seen to whiten; + and before they had staggered to their feet, a squall burst in rain upon + the outcasts. The rage and volume of that avalanche one must have lived in + the tropics to conceive; a man panted in its assault, as he might pant + under a shower-bath; and the world seemed whelmed in night and water. + </p> + <p> + They fled, groping for their usual shelter—it might be almost called + their home—in the old calaboose; came drenched into its empty + chambers; and lay down, three sops of humanity on the cold coral floors, + and presently, when the squall was overpast, the others could hear in the + darkness the chattering of the clerk's teeth. + </p> + <p> + 'I say, you fellows,' he walled, 'for God's sake, lie up and try to warm + me. I'm blymed if I don't think I'll die else!' + </p> + <p> + So the three crept together into one wet mass, and lay until day came, + shivering and dozing off, and continually re-awakened to wretchedness by + the coughing of the clerk. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter 2. MORNING ON THE BEACH—THE THREE LETTERS + </h2> + <p> + The clouds were all fled, the beauty of the tropic day was spread upon + Papeete; and the wall of breaking seas upon the reef, and the palms upon + the islet, already trembled in the heat. A French man-of-war was going + out, homeward bound; she lay in the middle distance of the port, an ant + heap for activity. In the night a schooner had come in, and now lay far + out, hard by the passage; and the yellow flag, the emblem of pestilence, + flew on her. From up the coast, a long procession of canoes headed round + the point and towards the market, bright as a scarf with the many-coloured + clothing of the natives and the piles of fruit. But not even the beauty + and the welcome warmth of the morning, not even these naval movements, so + interesting to sailors and to idlers, could engage the attention of the + outcasts. They were still cold at heart, their mouths sour from the want + of steep, their steps rambling from the lack of food; and they strung like + lame geese along the beach in a disheartened silence. It was towards the + town they moved; towards the town whence smoke arose, where happier folk + were breakfasting; and as they went, their hungry eyes were upon all + sides, but they were only scouting for a meal. + </p> + <p> + A small and dingy schooner lay snug against the quay, with which it was + connected by a plank. On the forward deck, under a spot of awning, five + Kanakas who made up the crew, were squatted round a basin of fried feis, + and drinking coffee from tin mugs. + </p> + <p> + 'Eight bells: knock off for breakfast!' cried the captain with a miserable + heartiness. 'Never tried this craft before; positively my first + appearance; guess I'll draw a bumper house.' + </p> + <p> + He came close up to where the plank rested on the grassy quay; turned his + back upon the schooner, and began to whistle that lively air, 'The Irish + Washerwoman.' It caught the ears of the Kanaka seamen like a preconcerted + signal; with one accord they looked up from their meal and crowded to the + ship's side, fei in hand and munching as they looked. Even as a poor brown + Pyrenean bear dances in the streets of English towns under his master's + baton; even so, but with how much more of spirit and precision, the + captain footed it in time to his own whistling, and his long morning + shadow capered beyond him on the grass. The Kanakas smiled on the + performance; Herrick looked on heavy-eyed, hunger for the moment + conquering all sense of shame; and a little farther off, but still hard + by, the clerk was torn by the seven devils of the influenza. + </p> + <p> + The captain stopped suddenly, appeared to perceive his audience for the + first time, and represented the part of a man surprised in his private + hour of pleasure. + </p> + <p> + 'Hello!' said he. + </p> + <p> + The Kanakas clapped hands and called upon him to go on. + </p> + <p> + 'No, SIR!' said the captain. 'No eat, no dance. Savvy?' + </p> + <p> + 'Poor old man!' returned one of the crew. 'Him no eat?' + </p> + <p> + 'Lord, no!' said the captain. 'Like-um too much eat. No got.' + </p> + <p> + 'All right. Me got,' said the sailor; 'you tome here. Plenty toffee, + plenty fei. Nutha man him tome too.' + </p> + <p> + 'I guess we'll drop right in,' observed the captain; and he and his + companions hastened up the plank. They were welcomed on board with the + shaking of hands; place was made for them about the basin; a sticky + demijohn of molasses was added to the feast in honour of company, and an + accordion brought from the forecastle and significantly laid by the + performer's side. + </p> + <p> + 'Ariana,' said he lightly, touching the instrument as he spoke; and he + fell to on a long savoury fei, made an end of it, raised his mug of + coffee, and nodded across at the spokesman of the crew. 'Here's your + health, old man; you're a credit to the South Pacific,' said he. + </p> + <p> + With the unsightly greed of hounds they glutted themselves with the hot + food and coffee; and even the clerk revived and the colour deepened in his + eyes. The kettle was drained, the basin cleaned; their entertainers, who + had waited on their wants throughout with the pleased hospitality of + Polynesians, made haste to bring forward a dessert of island tobacco and + rolls of pandanus leaf to serve as paper; and presently all sat about the + dishes puffing like Indian Sachems. + </p> + <p> + 'When a man 'as breakfast every day, he don't know what it is,' observed + the clerk. + </p> + <p> + 'The next point is dinner,' said Herrick; and then with a passionate + utterance: 'I wish to God I was a Kanaka!' + </p> + <p> + 'There's one thing sure,' said the captain. 'I'm about desperate, I'd + rather hang than rot here much longer.' And with the word he took the + accordion and struck up. 'Home, sweet home.' + </p> + <p> + 'O, drop that!' cried Herrick, 'I can't stand that.' + </p> + <p> + 'No more can I,' said the captain. 'I've got to play something though: got + to pay the shot, my son.' And he struck up 'John Brown's Body' in a fine + sweet baritone: 'Dandy Jim of Carolina,' came next; 'Rorin the Bold,' + 'Swing low, Sweet Chariot,' and 'The Beautiful Land' followed. The captain + was paying his shot with usury, as he had done many a time before; many a + meal had he bought with the same currency from the melodious-minded + natives, always, as now, to their delight. + </p> + <p> + He was in the middle of 'Fifteen Dollars in the Inside Pocket,' singing + with dogged energy, for the task went sore against the grain, when a + sensation was suddenly to be observed among the crew. + </p> + <p> + 'Tapena Tom harry my,' said the spokesman, pointing. + </p> + <p> + And the three beachcombers, following his indication, saw the figure of a + man in pyjama trousers and a white jumper approaching briskly from the + town. + </p> + <p> + 'Captain Tom is coming.' + </p> + <p> + 'That's Tapena Tom, is it?' said the captain, pausing in his music. 'I + don't seem to place the brute.' + </p> + <p> + 'We'd better cut,' said the clerk. ''E's no good.' + </p> + <p> + 'Well,' said the musician deliberately, 'one can't most generally always + tell. I'll try it on, I guess. Music has charms to soothe the savage + Tapena, boys. We might strike it rich; it might amount to iced punch in + the cabin.' + </p> + <p> + 'Hiced punch? O my!' said the clerk. 'Give him something 'ot, captain. + “Way down the Swannee River”; try that.' + </p> + <p> + 'No, sir! Looks Scotch,' said the captain; and he struck, for his life, + into 'Auld Lang Syne.' + </p> + <p> + Captain Tom continued to approach with the same business-like alacrity; no + change was to be perceived in his bearded face as he came swinging up the + plank: he did not even turn his eyes on the performer. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'We twa hae paidled in the burn + Frae morning tide till dine,' +</pre> + <p> + went the song. + </p> + <p> + Captain Tom had a parcel under his arm, which he laid on the house roof, + and then turning suddenly to the strangers: 'Here, you!' he bellowed, 'be + off out of that!' + </p> + <p> + The clerk and Herrick stood not on the order of their going, but fled + incontinently by the plank. The performer, on the other hand, flung down + the instrument and rose to his full height slowly. + </p> + <p> + 'What's that you say?' he said. 'I've half a mind to give you a lesson in + civility.' + </p> + <p> + 'You set up any more of your gab to me,' returned the Scotsman, 'and I'll + show ye the wrong side of a jyle. I've heard tell of the three of ye. + Ye're not long for here, I can tell ye that. The Government has their eyes + upon ye. They make short work of damned beachcombers, I'll say that for + the French.' + </p> + <p> + 'You wait till I catch you off your ship!' cried the captain: and then, + turning to the crew, 'Good-bye, you fellows!' he said. 'You're gentlemen, + anyway! The worst nigger among you would look better upon a quarter-deck + than that filthy Scotchman.' + </p> + <p> + Captain Tom scorned to reply; he watched with a hard smile the departure + of his guests; and as soon as the last foot was off the plank; turned to + the hands to work cargo. + </p> + <p> + The beachcombers beat their inglorious retreat along the shore; Herrick + first, his face dark with blood, his knees trembling under him with the + hysteria of rage. Presently, under the same purao where they had shivered + the night before, he cast himself down, and groaned aloud, and ground his + face into the sand. + </p> + <p> + 'Don't speak to me, don't speak to me. I can't stand it,' broke from him. + </p> + <p> + The other two stood over him perplexed. + </p> + <p> + 'Wot can't he stand now?' said the clerk. ''Asn't he 'ad a meal? I'M + lickin' my lips.' + </p> + <p> + Herrick reared up his wild eyes and burning face. 'I can't beg!' he + screamed, and again threw himself prone. + </p> + <p> + 'This thing's got to come to an end,' said the captain with an intake of + the breath. + </p> + <p> + 'Looks like signs of an end, don't it?' sneered the clerk. + </p> + <p> + 'He's not so far from it, and don't you deceive yourself,' replied the + captain. 'Well,' he added in a livelier voice, 'you fellows hang on here, + and I'll go and interview my representative.' + </p> + <p> + Whereupon he turned on his heel, and set off at a swinging sailor's walk + towards Papeete. + </p> + <p> + It was some half hour later when he returned. The clerk was dozing with + his back against the tree: Herrick still lay where he had flung himself; + nothing showed whether he slept or waked. + </p> + <p> + 'See, boys!' cried the captain, with that artificial heartiness of his + which was at times so painful, 'here's a new idea.' And he produced note + paper, stamped envelopes, and pencils, three of each. 'We can all write + home by the mail brigantine; the consul says I can come over to his place + and ink up the addresses.' + </p> + <p> + 'Well, that's a start, too,' said the clerk. 'I never thought of that.' + </p> + <p> + 'It was that yarning last night about going home that put me up to it,' + said the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, 'and over,' said the clerk. 'I'll 'ave a shy,' and he retired a + little distance to the shade of a canoe. + </p> + <p> + The others remained under the purao. Now they would write a word or two, + now scribble it out; now they would sit biting at the pencil end and + staring seaward; now their eyes would rest on the clerk, where he sat + propped on the canoe, leering and coughing, his pencil racing glibly on + the paper. + </p> + <p> + 'I can't do it,' said Herrick suddenly. 'I haven't got the heart.' + </p> + <p> + 'See here,' said the captain, speaking with unwonted gravity; 'it may be + hard to write, and to write lies at that; and God knows it is; but it's + the square thing. It don't cost anything to say you're well and happy, and + sorry you can't make a remittance this mail; and if you don't, I'll tell + you what I think it is—I think it's about the high-water mark of + being a brute beast.' + </p> + <p> + 'It's easy to talk,' said Herrick. 'You don't seem to have written much + yourself, I notice.' + </p> + <p> + 'What do you bring in me for?' broke from the captain. His voice was + indeed scarce raised above a whisper, but emotion clanged in it. 'What do + you know about me? If you had commanded the finest barque that ever sailed + from Portland; if you had been drunk in your berth when she struck the + breakers in Fourteen Island Group, and hadn't had the wit to stay there + and drown, but came on deck, and given drunken orders, and lost six lives—I + could understand your talking then! There,' he said more quietly, 'that's + my yarn, and now you know it. It's a pretty one for the father of a + family. Five men and a woman murdered. Yes, there was a woman on board, + and hadn't no business to be either. Guess I sent her to Hell, if there is + such a place. I never dared go home again; and the wife and the little + ones went to England to her father's place. I don't know what's come to + them,' he added, with a bitter shrug. + </p> + <p> + 'Thank you, captain,' said Herrick. 'I never liked you better.' + </p> + <p> + They shook hands, short and hard, with eyes averted, tenderness swelling + in their bosoms. + </p> + <p> + 'Now, boys! to work again at lying!' said the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'I'll give my father up,' returned Herrick with a writhen smile. 'I'll try + my sweetheart instead for a change of evils.' + </p> + <p> + And here is what he wrote: + </p> + <p> + 'Emma, I have scratched out the beginning to my father, for I think I can + write more easily to you. This is my last farewell to all, the last you + will ever hear or see of an unworthy friend and son. I have failed in + life; I am quite broken down and disgraced. I pass under a false name; you + will have to tell my father that with all your kindness. It is my own + fault. I know, had I chosen, that I might have done well; and yet I swear + to you I tried to choose. I could not bear that you should think I did not + try. For I loved you all; you must never doubt me in that, you least of + all. I have always unceasingly loved, but what was my love worth? and what + was I worth? I had not the manhood of a common clerk, I could not work to + earn you; I have lost you now, and for your sake I could be glad of it. + When you first came to my father's house—do you remember those days? + I want you to—you saw the best of me then, all that was good in me. + Do you remember the day I took your hand and would not let it go—and + the day on Battersea Bridge, when we were looking at a barge, and I began + to tell you one of my silly stories, and broke off to say I loved you? + That was the beginning, and now here is the end. When you have read this + letter, you will go round and kiss them all good-bye, my father and + mother, and the children, one by one, and poor uncle; And tell them all to + forget me, and forget me yourself. Turn the key in the door; let no + thought of me return; be done with the poor ghost that pretended he was a + man and stole your love. Scorn of myself grinds in me as I write. I should + tell you I am well and happy, and want for nothing. I do not exactly make + money, or I should send a remittance; but I am well cared for, have + friends, live in a beautiful place and climate, such as we have dreamed of + together, and no pity need be wasted on me. In such places, you + understand, it is easy to live, and live well, but often hard to make + sixpence in money. Explain this to my father, he will understand. I have + no more to say; only linger, going out, like an unwilling guest. God in + heaven bless you. Think of me to the last, here, on a bright beach, the + sky and sea immoderately blue, and the great breakers roaring outside on a + barrier reef, where a little isle sits green with palms. I am well and + strong. It is a more pleasant way to die than if you were crowding about + me on a sick-bed. And yet I am dying. This is my last kiss. Forgive, + forget the unworthy.' + </p> + <p> + So far he had written, his paper was all filled, when there returned a + memory of evenings at the piano, and that song, the masterpiece of love, + in which so many have found the expression of their dearest thoughts. + 'Einst, O wunder!' he added. More was not required; he knew that in his + love's heart the context would spring up, escorted with fair images and + harmony; of how all through life her name should tremble in his ears, her + name be everywhere repeated in the sounds of nature; and when death came, + and he lay dissolved, her memory lingered and thrilled among his elements. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'Once, O wonder! once from the ashes of my heart + Arose a blossom—' +</pre> + <p> + Herrick and the captain finished their letters about the same time; each + was breathing deep, and their eyes met and were averted as they closed the + envelopes. + </p> + <p> + 'Sorry I write so big,' said the captain gruffly. 'Came all of a rush, + when it did come.' + </p> + <p> + 'Same here,' said Herrick. 'I could have done with a ream when I got + started; but it's long enough for all the good I had to say.' + </p> + <p> + They were still at the addresses when the clerk strolled up, smirking and + twirling his envelope, like a man well pleased. He looked over Herrick's + shoulder. + </p> + <p> + 'Hullo,' he said, 'you ain't writing 'ome.' + </p> + <p> + 'I am, though,' said Herrick; 'she lives with my father. Oh, I see what + you mean,' he added. 'My real name is Herrick. No more Hay'—they had + both used the same alias—'no more Hay than yours, I dare say.' + </p> + <p> + 'Clean bowled in the middle stump!' laughed the clerk. 'My name's 'Uish if + you want to know. Everybody has a false nyme in the Pacific. Lay you five + to three the captain 'as.' + </p> + <p> + 'So I have too,' replied the captain; 'and I've never told my own since + the day I tore the title page out of my Bowditch and flung the damned + thing into the sea. But I'll tell it to you, boys. John Davis is my name. + I'm Davis of the Sea Ranger.' + </p> + <p> + 'Dooce you are!' said Hush. 'And what was she? a pirate or a slyver?' + </p> + <p> + 'She was the fastest barque out of Portland, Maine,' replied the captain; + 'and for the way I lost her, I might as well have bored a hole in her side + with an auger.' + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, you lost her, did you?' said the clerk. ''Ope she was insured?' + </p> + <p> + No answer being returned to this sally, Huish, still brimming over with + vanity and conversation, struck into another subject. + </p> + <p> + 'I've a good mind to read you my letter,' said he. 'I've a good fist with + a pen when I choose, and this is a prime lark. She was a barmaid I ran + across in Northampton; she was a spanking fine piece, no end of style; and + we cottoned at first sight like parties in the play. I suppose I spent the + chynge of a fiver on that girl. Well, I 'appened to remember her nyme, so + I wrote to her, and told her 'ow I had got rich, and married a queen in + the Hislands, and lived in a blooming palace. Such a sight of crammers! I + must read you one bit about my opening the nigger parliament in a cocked + 'at. It's really prime.' + </p> + <p> + The captain jumped to his feet. 'That's what you did with the paper that I + went and begged for you?' he roared. + </p> + <p> + It was perhaps lucky for Huish—it was surely in the end unfortunate + for all—that he was seized just then by one of his prostrating + accesses of cough; his comrades would have else deserted him, so bitter + was their resentment. When the fit had passed, the clerk reached out his + hand, picked up the letter, which had fallen to the earth, and tore it + into fragments, stamp and all. + </p> + <p> + 'Does that satisfy you?' he asked sullenly. + </p> + <p> + 'We'll say no more about it,' replied Davis. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter 3. THE OLD CALABOOSE—DESTINY AT THE DOOR + </h2> + <p> + The old calaboose, in which the waifs had so long harboured, is a low, + rectangular enclosure of building at the corner of a shady western avenue + and a little townward of the British consulate. Within was a grassy court, + littered with wreckage and the traces of vagrant occupation. Six or seven + cells opened from the court: the doors, that had once been locked on + mutinous whalermen, rotting before them in the grass. No mark remained of + their old destination, except the rusty bars upon the windows. + </p> + <p> + The floor of one of the cells had been a little cleared; a bucket (the + last remaining piece of furniture of the three caitiffs) stood full of + water by the door, a half cocoanut shell beside it for a drinking cup; and + on some ragged ends of mat Huish sprawled asleep, his mouth open, his face + deathly. The glow of the tropic afternoon, the green of sunbright foliage, + stared into that shady place through door and window; and Herrick, pacing + to and fro on the coral floor, sometimes paused and laved his face and + neck with tepid water from the bucket. His long arrears of suffering, the + night's vigil, the insults of the morning, and the harrowing business of + the letter, had strung him to that point when pain is almost pleasure, + time shrinks to a mere point, and death and life appear indifferent. To + and fro he paced like a caged brute; his mind whirling through the + universe of thought and memory; his eyes, as he went, skimming the legends + on the wall. The crumbling whitewash was all full of them: Tahitian names, + and French, and English, and rude sketches of ships under sail and men at + fisticuffs. + </p> + <p> + It came to him of a sudden that he too must leave upon these walls the + memorial of his passage. He paused before a clean space, took the pencil + out, and pondered. Vanity, so hard to dislodge, awoke in him. We call it + vanity at least; perhaps unjustly. Rather it was the bare sense of his + existence prompted him; the sense of his life, the one thing wonderful, to + which he scarce clung with a finger. From his jarred nerves there came a + strong sentiment of coming change; whether good or ill he could not say: + change, he knew no more—change, with inscrutable veiled face, + approaching noiseless. With the feeling, came the vision of a concert + room, the rich hues of instruments, the silent audience, and the loud + voice of the symphony. 'Destiny knocking at the door,' he thought; drew a + stave on the plaster, and wrote in the famous phrase from the Fifth + Symphony. 'So,' thought he, 'they will know that I loved music and had + classical tastes. They? He, I suppose: the unknown, kindred spirit that + shall come some day and read my memor querela. Ha, he shall have Latin + too!' And he added: terque quaterque beati Queis ante ora patrum. + </p> + <p> + He turned again to his uneasy pacing, but now with an irrational and + supporting sense of duty done. He had dug his grave that morning; now he + had carved his epitaph; the folds of the toga were composed, why should he + delay the insignificant trifle that remained to do? He paused and looked + long in the face of the sleeping Huish, drinking disenchantment and + distaste of life. He nauseated himself with that vile countenance. Could + the thing continue? What bound him now? Had he no rights?—only the + obligation to go on, without discharge or furlough, bearing the + unbearable? Ich trage unertragliches, the quotation rose in his mind; he + repeated the whole piece, one of the most perfect of the most perfect of + poets; and a phrase struck him like a blow: Du, stolzes Herz, A hast es ja + gewolit. Where was the pride of his heart? And he raged against himself, + as a man bites on a sore tooth, in a heady sensuality of scorn. 'I have no + pride, I have no heart, no manhood,' he thought, 'or why should I prolong + a life more shameful than the gallows? Or why should I have fallen to it? + No pride, no capacity, no force. Not even a bandit! and to be starving + here with worse than banditti—with this trivial hell-hound!' His + rage against his comrade rose and flooded him, and he shook a trembling + fist at the sleeper. + </p> + <p> + A swift step was audible. The captain appeared upon the threshold of the + cell, panting and flushed, and with a foolish face of happiness. In his + arms he carried a loaf of bread and bottles of beer; the pockets of his + coat were bulging with cigars. + </p> + <p> + He rolled his treasures on the floor, grasped Herrick by both hands, and + crowed with laughter. + </p> + <p> + 'Broach the beer!' he shouted. 'Broach the beer, and glory hallelujah!' + </p> + <p> + 'Beer?' repeated Huish, struggling to his feet. 'Beer it is!' cried Davis. + 'Beer and plenty of it. Any number of persons can use it (like Lyon's + tooth-tablet) with perfect propriety and neatness. Who's to officiate?' + </p> + <p> + 'Leave me alone for that,' said the clerk. He knocked the necks off with a + lump of coral, and each drank in succession from the shell. + </p> + <p> + 'Have a weed,' said Davis. 'It's all in the bill.' + </p> + <p> + 'What is up?' asked Herrick. + </p> + <p> + The captain fell suddenly grave. 'I'm coming to that,' said he. 'I want to + speak with Herrick here. You, Hay—or Huish, or whatever your name is—you + take a weed and the other bottle, and go and see how the wind is down by + the purao. I'll call you when you're wanted!' + </p> + <p> + 'Hay? Secrets? That ain't the ticket,' said Huish. + </p> + <p> + 'Look here, my son,' said the captain, 'this is business, and don't you + make any mistake about it. If you're going to make trouble, you can have + it your own way and stop right here. Only get the thing right: if Herrick + and I go, we take the beer. Savvy?' + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, I don't want to shove my oar in,' returned Huish. 'I'll cut right + enough. Give me the swipes. You can jaw till you're blue in the face for + what I care. I don't think it's the friendly touch: that's all.' And he + shambled grumbling out of the cell into the staring sun. + </p> + <p> + The captain watched him clear of the courtyard; then turned to Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'What is it?' asked Herrick thickly. + </p> + <p> + 'I'll tell you,' said Davis. 'I want to consult you. It's a chance we've + got. What's that?' he cried, pointing to the music on the wall. + </p> + <p> + 'What?' said the other. 'Oh, that! It's music; it's a phrase of + Beethoven's I was writing up. It means Destiny knocking at the door.' + </p> + <p> + 'Does it?' said the captain, rather low; and he went near and studied the + inscription; 'and this French?' he asked, pointing to the Latin. + </p> + <p> + 'O, it just means I should have been luckier if I had died at horne,' + returned Herrick impatiently. 'What is this business?' + </p> + <p> + 'Destiny knocking at the door,' repeated the captain; and then, looking + over his shoulder. 'Well, Mr Herrick, that's about what it comes to,' he + added. + </p> + <p> + 'What do you mean? Explain yourself,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + But the captain was again staring at the music. 'About how long ago since + you wrote up this truck?' he asked. + </p> + <p> + 'What does it matter?' exclaimed Herrick. 'I dare say half an hour.' + </p> + <p> + 'My God, it's strange!' cried Davis. 'There's some men would call that + accidental: not me. That—' and he drew his thick finger under the + music—'that's what I call Providence.' + </p> + <p> + 'You said we had a chance,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Yes, SIR!' said the captain, wheeling suddenly face to face with his + companion. 'I did so. If you're the man I take you for, we have a chance.' + </p> + <p> + 'I don't know what you take me for,' was the reply. 'You can scarce take + me too low.' + </p> + <p> + 'Shake hands, Mr Herrick,' said the captain. 'I know you. You're a + gentleman and a man of spirit. I didn't want to speak before that bummer + there; you'll see why. But to you I'll rip it right out. I got a ship.' + </p> + <p> + 'A ship?' cried Herrick. 'What ship?' + </p> + <p> + 'That schooner we saw this morning off the passage.' + </p> + <p> + 'The schooner with the hospital flag?' + </p> + <p> + 'That's the hooker,' said Davis. 'She's the Farallone, hundred and sixty + tons register, out of 'Frisco for Sydney, in California champagne. + Captain, mate, and one hand all died of the smallpox, same as they had + round in the Paumotus, I guess. Captain and mate were the only white men; + all the hands Kanakas; seems a queer kind of outfit from a Christian port. + Three of them left and a cook; didn't know where they were; I can't think + where they were either, if you come to that; Wiseman must have been on the + booze, I guess, to sail the course he did. However, there HE was, dead; + and here are the Kanakas as good as lost. They bummed around at sea like + the babes in the wood; and tumbled end-on upon Tahiti. The consul here + took charge. He offered the berth to Williams; Williams had never had the + smallpox and backed down. That was when I came in for the letter paper; I + thought there was something up when the consul asked me to look in again; + but I never let on to you fellows, so's you'd not be disappointed. Consul + tried M'Neil; scared of smallpox. He tried Capirati, that Corsican and + Leblue, or whatever his name is, wouldn't lay a hand on it; all too fond + of their sweet lives. Last of all, when there wasn't nobody else left to + offer it to, he offers it to me. “Brown, will you ship captain and take + her to Sydney?” says he. “Let me choose my own mate and another white + hand,” says I, “for I don't hold with this Kanaka crew racket; give us all + two months' advance to get our clothes and instruments out of pawn, and + I'll take stock tonight, fill up stores, and get to sea tomorrow before + dark!” That's what I said. “That's good enough,” says the consul, “and you + can count yourself damned lucky, Brown,” says he. And he said it pretty + meaningful-appearing, too. However, that's all one now. I'll ship Huish + before the mast—of course I'll let him berth aft—and I'll ship + you mate at seventy-five dollars and two months' advance.' + </p> + <p> + 'Me mate? Why, I'm a landsman!' cried Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Guess you've got to learn,' said the captain. 'You don't fancy I'm going + to skip and leave you rotting on the beach perhaps? I'm not that sort, old + man. And you're handy anyway; I've been shipmates with worse.' + </p> + <p> + 'God knows I can't refuse,' said Herrick. 'God knows I thank you from my + heart.' + </p> + <p> + 'That's all right,' said the captain. 'But it ain't all.' He turned aside + to light a cigar. + </p> + <p> + 'What else is there?' asked the other, with a pang of undefinable alarm. + </p> + <p> + 'I'm coming to that,' said Davis, and then paused a little. 'See here,' he + began, holding out his cigar between his finger and thumb, 'suppose you + figure up what this'll amount to. You don't catch on? Well, we get two + months' advance; we can't get away from Papeete—our creditors + wouldn't let us go—for less; it'll take us along about two months to + get to Sydney; and when we get there, I just want to put it to you + squarely: What the better are we?' + </p> + <p> + 'We're off the beach at least,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'I guess there's a beach at Sydney,' returned the captain; 'and I'll tell + you one thing, Mr Herrick—I don't mean to try. No, SIR! Sydney will + never see me.' + </p> + <p> + 'Speak out plain,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Plain Dutch,' replied the captain. 'I'm going to own that schooner. It's + nothing new; it's done every year in the Pacific. Stephens stole a + schooner the other day, didn't he? Hayes and Pease stole vessels all the + time. And it's the making of the crowd of us. See here—you think of + that cargo. Champagne! why, it's like as if it was put up on purpose. In + Peru we'll sell that liquor off at the pier-head, and the schooner after + it, if we can find a fool to buy her; and then light out for the mines. If + you'll back me up, I stake my life I carry it through.' + </p> + <p> + 'Captain,' said Herrick, with a quailing voice, 'don't do it!' + </p> + <p> + 'I'm desperate,' returned Davis. 'I've got a chance; I may never get + another. Herrick, say the word; back me up; I think we've starved together + long enough for that.' + </p> + <p> + 'I can't do it. I'm sorry. I can't do it. I've not fallen as low as that,' + said Herrick, deadly pale. + </p> + <p> + 'What did you say this morning?' said Davis. 'That you couldn't beg? It's + the one thing or the other, my son.' + </p> + <p> + 'Ah, but this is the jail!' cried Herrick. 'Don't tempt me. It's the + jail.' + </p> + <p> + 'Did you hear what the skipper said on board that schooner?' pursued the + captain. 'Well, I tell you he talked straight. The French have let us + alone for a long time; It can't last longer; they've got their eye on us; + and as sure as you live, in three weeks you'll be in jail whatever you do. + I read it in the consul's face.' + </p> + <p> + 'You forget, captain,' said the young man. 'There is another way. I can + die; and to say truth, I think I should have died three years ago.' + </p> + <p> + The captain folded his arms and looked the other in the face. 'Yes,' said + he, 'yes, you can cut your throat; that's a frozen fact; much good may it + do you! And where do I come in?' + </p> + <p> + The light of a strange excitement came in Herrick's face. 'Both of us,' + said he, 'both of us together. It's not possible you can enjoy this + business. Come,' and he reached out a timid hand, 'a few strokes in the + lagoon—and rest!' + </p> + <p> + 'I tell you, Herrick, I'm 'most tempted to answer you the way the man does + in the Bible, and say, “Get thee behind me, Satan!”' said the captain. + 'What! you think I would go drown myself, and I got children starving? + Enjoy it? No, by God, I do not enjoy it! but it's the row I've got to hoe, + and I'll hoe it till I drop right here. I have three of them, you see, two + boys and the one girl, Adar. The trouble is that you are not a parent + yourself. I tell you, Herrick, I love you,' the man broke out; 'I didn't + take to you at first, you were so anglified and tony, but I love you now; + it's a man that loves you stands here and wrestles with you. I can't go to + sea with the bummer alone; it's not possible. Go drown yourself, and there + goes my last chance—the last chance of a poor miserable beast, + earning a crust to feed his family. I can't do nothing but sail ships, and + I've no papers. And here I get a chance, and you go back on me! Ah, you've + no family, and that's where the trouble is!' + </p> + <p> + 'I have indeed,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Yes, I know,' said the captain, 'you think so. But no man's got a family + till he's got children. It's only the kids count. There's something about + the little shavers... I can't talk of them. And if you thought a cent + about this father that I hear you talk of, or that sweetheart you were + writing to this morning, you would feel like me. You would say, What + matters laws, and God, and that? My folks are hard up, I belong to them, + I'll get them bread, or, by God! I'll get them wealth, if I have to burn + down London for it. That's what you would say. And I'll tell you more: + your heart is saying so this living minute. I can see it in your face. + You're thinking, Here's poor friendship for the man I've starved along of, + and as for the girl that I set up to be in love with, here's a mighty limp + kind of a love that won't carry me as far as 'most any man would go for a + demijohn of whisky. There's not much ROmance to that love, anyway; it's + not the kind they carry on about in songbooks. But what's the good of my + carrying on talking, when it's all in your inside as plain as print? I put + the question to you once for all. Are you going to desert me in my hour of + need?—you know if I've deserted you—or will you give me your + hand, and try a fresh deal, and go home (as like as not) a millionaire? + Say no, and God pity me! Say yes, and I'll make the little ones pray for + you every night on their bended knees. “God bless Mr Herrick!” that's what + they'll say, one after the other, the old girl sitting there holding + stakes at the foot of the bed, and the damned little innocents.. . He + broke off. 'I don't often rip out about the kids,' he said; 'but when I + do, there's something fetches loose.' + </p> + <p> + 'Captain,' said Herrick faintly, 'is there nothing else?' + </p> + <p> + 'I'll prophesy if you like,' said the captain with renewed vigour. 'Refuse + this, because you think yourself too honest, and before a month's out + you'll be jailed for a sneak-thief. I give you the word fair. I can see + it, Herrick, if you can't; you're breaking down. Don't think, if you + refuse this chance, that you'll go on doing the evangelical; you're about + through with your stock; and before you know where you are, you'll be + right out on the other side. No, it's either this for you; or else it's + Caledonia. I bet you never were there, and saw those white, shaved men, in + their dust clothes and straw hats, prowling around in gangs in the + lamplight at Noumea; they look like wolves, and they look like preachers, + and they look like the sick; Hulsh is a daisy to the best of them. Well, + there's your company. They're waiting for you, Herrick, and you got to go; + and that's a prophecy.' + </p> + <p> + And as the man stood and shook through his great stature, he seemed indeed + like one in whom the spirit of divination worked and might utter oracles. + Herrick looked at him, and looked away; It seemed not decent to spy upon + such agitation; and the young man's courage sank. + </p> + <p> + 'You talk of going home,' he objected. 'We could never do that.' + </p> + <p> + 'WE could,' said the other. 'Captain Brown couldn't, nor Mr Hay, that + shipped mate with him couldn't. But what's that to do with Captain Davis + or Mr Herrick, you galoot?' + </p> + <p> + 'But Hayes had these wild islands where he used to call,' came the next + fainter objection. + </p> + <p> + 'We have the wild islands of Peru,' retorted Davis. 'They were wild enough + for Stephens, no longer agone than just last year. I guess they'll be wild + enough for us.' + </p> + <p> + 'And the crew?' + </p> + <p> + 'All Kanakas. Come, I see you're right, old man. I see you'll stand by.' + And the captain once more offered his hand. + </p> + <p> + 'Have it your own way then,' said Herrick. 'I'll do it: a strange thing + for my father's son. But I'll do it. I'll stand by you, man, for good or + evil.' + </p> + <p> + 'God bless you!' cried the captain, and stood silent. 'Herrick,' he added + with a smile, 'I believe I'd have died in my tracks, if you'd said, No!' + </p> + <p> + And Herrick, looking at the man, half believed so also. + </p> + <p> + 'And now we'll go break it to the bummer,' said Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'I wonder how he'll take it,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Him? Jump at it!' was the reply. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter 4. THE YELLOW FLAG + </h2> + <p> + The schooner Farallone lay well out in the jaws of the pass, where the + terrified pilot had made haste to bring her to her moorings and escape. + Seen from the beach through the thin line of shipping, two objects stood + conspicuous to seaward: the little isle, on the one hand, with its palms + and the guns and batteries raised forty years before in defence of Queen + Pomare's capital; the outcast Farallone, upon the other, banished to the + threshold of the port, rolling there to her scuppers, and flaunting the + plague-flag as she rolled. A few sea birds screamed and cried about the + ship; and within easy range, a man-of-war guard boat hung off and on and + glittered with the weapons of marines. The exuberant daylight and the + blinding heaven of the tropics picked out and framed the pictures. + </p> + <p> + A neat boat, manned by natives in uniform, and steered by the doctor of + the port, put from shore towards three of the afternoon, and pulled + smartly for the schooner. The fore-sheets were heaped with sacks of flour, + onions, and potatoes, perched among which was Huish dressed as a foremast + hand; a heap of chests and cases impeded the action of the oarsmen; and in + the stern, by the left hand of the doctor, sat Herrick, dressed in a fresh + rig of slops, his brown beard trimmed to a point, a pile of paper novels + on his lap, and nursing the while between his feet a chronometer, for + which they had exchanged that of the Farallone, long since run down and + the rate lost. + </p> + <p> + They passed the guard boat, exchanging hails with the boat-swain's mate in + charge, and drew near at last to the forbidden ship. Not a cat stirred, + there was no speech of man; and the sea being exceeding high outside, and + the reef close to where the schooner lay, the clamour of the surf hung + round her like the sound of battle. + </p> + <p> + 'Ohe la goelette!' sang out the doctor, with his best voice. + </p> + <p> + Instantly, from the house where they had been stowing away stores, first + Davis, and then the ragamuffin, swarthy crew made their appearance. + </p> + <p> + 'Hullo, Hay, that you?' said the captain, leaning on the rail. 'Tell the + old man to lay her alongside, as if she was eggs. There's a hell of a run + of sea here, and his boat's brittle.' + </p> + <p> + The movement of the schooner was at that time more than usually violent. + Now she heaved her side as high as a deep sea steamer's, and showed the + flashing of her copper; now she swung swiftly toward the boat until her + scuppers gurgled. + </p> + <p> + 'I hope you have sea legs,' observed the doctor. 'You will require them.' + </p> + <p> + Indeed, to board the Farallone, in that exposed position where she lay, + was an affair of some dexterity. The less precious goods were hoisted + roughly in; the chronometer, after repeated failures, was passed gently + and successfully from hand to hand; and there remained only the more + difficult business of embarking Huish. Even that piece of dead weight + (shipped A.B. at eighteen dollars, and described by the captain to the + consul as an invaluable man) was at last hauled on board without mishap; + and the doctor, with civil salutations, took his leave. + </p> + <p> + The three co-adventurers looked at each other, and Davis heaved a breath + of relief. + </p> + <p> + 'Now let's get this chronometer fixed,' said he, and led the way into the + house. It was a fairly spacious place; two staterooms and a good-sized + pantry opened from the main cabin; the bulkheads were painted white, the + floor laid with waxcloth. No litter, no sign of life remained; for the + effects of the dead men had been disinfected and conveyed on shore. Only + on the table, in a saucer, some sulphur burned, and the fumes set them + coughing as they entered. The captain peered into the starboard stateroom, + where the bed-clothes still lay tumbled in the bunk, the blanket flung + back as they had flung it back from the disfigured corpse before its + burial. + </p> + <p> + 'Now, I told these niggers to tumble that truck overboard,' grumbled + Davis. 'Guess they were afraid to lay hands on it. Well, they've hosed the + place out; that's as much as can be expected, I suppose. Huish, lay on to + these blankets.' + </p> + <p> + 'See you blooming well far enough first,' said Huish, drawing back. + </p> + <p> + 'What's that?' snapped the captain. 'I'll tell you, my young friend, I + think you make a mistake. I'm captain here.' + </p> + <p> + 'Fat lot I care,' returned the clerk. + </p> + <p> + 'That so?' said Davis. 'Then you'll berth forward with the niggers! Walk + right out of this cabin.' + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, I dessay!' said Huish. 'See any green in my eye? A lark's a lark.' + </p> + <p> + 'Well, now, I'll explain this business, and you'll see (once for all) just + precisely how much lark there is to it,' said Davis. 'I'm captain, and I'm + going to be it. One thing of three. First, you take my orders here as + cabin steward, in which case you mess with us. Or second, you refuse, and + I pack you forward—and you get as quick as the word's said. Or, + third and last, I'll signal that man-of-war and send you ashore under + arrest for mutiny.' + </p> + <p> + 'And, of course, I wouldn't blow the gaff? O no!' replied the jeering + Huish. + </p> + <p> + 'And who's to believe you, my son?' inquired the captain. 'No, sir! There + ain't no lark about my captainising. Enough said. Up with these blankets.' + </p> + <p> + Huish was no fool, he knew when he was beaten; and he was no coward + either, for he stepped to the bunk, took the infected bed-clothes fairly + in his arms, and carried them out of the house without a check or tremor. + </p> + <p> + 'I was waiting for the chance,' said Davis to Herrick. 'I needn't do the + same with you, because you understand it for yourself.' + </p> + <p> + 'Are you going to berth here?' asked Herrick, following the captain into + the stateroom, where he began to adjust the chronometer in its place at + the bed-head. + </p> + <p> + 'Not much!' replied he. 'I guess I'll berth on deck. I don't know as I'm + afraid, but I've no immediate use for confluent smallpox.' + </p> + <p> + 'I don't know that I'm afraid either,' said Herrick. 'But the thought of + these two men sticks in my throat; that captain and mate dying here, one + opposite to the other. It's grim. I wonder what they said last?' + </p> + <p> + 'Wiseman and Wishart?' said the captain. 'Probably mighty small potatoes. + That's a thing a fellow figures out for himself one way, and the real + business goes quite another. Perhaps Wiseman said, “Here old man, fetch up + the gin, I'm feeling powerful rocky.” And perhaps Wishart said, “Oh, + hell!”' + </p> + <p> + 'Well, that's grim enough,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'And so it is,' said Davis. 'There; there's that chronometer fixed. And + now it's about time to up anchor and clear out.' + </p> + <p> + He lit a cigar and stepped on deck. + </p> + <p> + 'Here, you! What's YOUR name?' he cried to one of the hands, a + lean-flanked, clean-built fellow from some far western island, and of a + darkness almost approaching to the African. + </p> + <p> + 'Sally Day,' replied the man. + </p> + <p> + 'Devil it is,' said the captain. 'Didn't know we had ladies on board. + Well, Sally, oblige me by hauling down that rag there. I'll do the same + for you another time.' He watched the yellow bunting as it was eased past + the cross-trees and handed down on deck. 'You'll float no more on this + ship,' he observed. 'Muster the people aft, Mr Hay,' he added, speaking + unnecessarily loud, 'I've a word to say to them.' + </p> + <p> + It was with a singular sensation that Herrick prepared for the first time + to address a crew. He thanked his stars indeed, that they were natives. + But even natives, he reflected, might be critics too quick for such a + novice as himself; they might perceive some lapse from that precise and + cut-and-dry English which prevails on board a ship; it was even possible + they understood no other; and he racked his brain, and overhauled his + reminiscences of sea romance for some appropriate words. + </p> + <p> + 'Here, men! tumble aft!' he said. 'Lively now! All hands aft!' + </p> + <p> + They crowded in the alleyway like sheep. + </p> + <p> + 'Here they are, sir,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + For some time the captain continued to face the stern; then turned with + ferocious suddenness on the crew, and seemed to enjoy their shrinking. + </p> + <p> + 'Now,' he said, twisting his cigar in his mouth and toying with the spokes + of the wheel, 'I'm Captain Brown. I command this ship. This is Mr Hay, + first officer. The other white man is cabin steward, but he'll stand watch + and do his trick. My orders shall be obeyed smartly. You savvy, “smartly”? + There shall be no growling about the kaikai, which will be above + allowance. You'll put a handle to the mate's name, and tack on “sir” to + every order I give you. If you're smart and quick, I'll make this ship + comfortable for all hands.' He took the cigar out of his mouth. 'If you're + not,' he added, in a roaring voice, 'I'll make it a floating hell. Now, Mr + Hay, we'll pick watches, if you please.' + </p> + <p> + 'All right,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'You will please use “sir” when you address me, Mr Hay,' said the captain. + 'I'll take the lady. Step to starboard, Sally.' And then he whispered in + Herrick's ear: 'take the old man.' + </p> + <p> + 'I'll take you, there,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'What's your name?' said the captain. 'What's that you say? Oh, that's no + English; I'll have none of your highway gibberish on my ship. We'll call + you old Uncle Ned, because you've got no wool on the top of your head, + just the place where the wool ought to grow. Step to port, Uncle. Don't + you hear Mr Hay has picked you? Then I'll take the white man. White Man, + step to starboard. Now which of you two is the cook? You? Then Mr Hay + takes your friend in the blue dungaree. Step to port, Dungaree. There, we + know who we all are: Dungaree, Uncle Ned, Sally Day, White Man, and Cook. + All F.F.V.'s I guess. And now, Mr Hay, we'll up anchor, if you please.' + </p> + <p> + 'For Heaven's sake, tell me some of the words,' whispered Herrick. + </p> + <p> + An hour later, the Farallone was under all plain sail, the rudder hard + a-port, and the cheerfully clanking windlass had brought the anchor home. + </p> + <p> + 'All clear, sir,' cried Herrick from the bow. + </p> + <p> + The captain met her with the wheel, as she bounded like a stag from her + repose, trembling and bending to the puffs. The guard boat gave a parting + hail, the wake whitened and ran out; the Farallone was under weigh. + </p> + <p> + Her berth had been close to the pass. Even as she forged ahead Davis + slewed her for the channel between the pier ends of the reef, the breakers + sounding and whitening to either hand. Straight through the narrow band of + blue, she shot to seaward: and the captain's heart exulted as he felt her + tremble underfoot, and (looking back over the taffrail) beheld the roofs + of Papeete changing position on the shore and the island mountains rearing + higher in the wake. + </p> + <p> + But they were not yet done with the shore and the horror of the yellow + flag. About midway of the pass, there was a cry and a scurry, a man was + seen to leap upon the rail, and, throwing his arms over his head, to stoop + and plunge into the sea. + </p> + <p> + 'Steady as she goes,' the captain cried, relinquishing the wheel to Huish. + </p> + <p> + The next moment he was forward in the midst of the Kanakas, belaying pin + in hand. + </p> + <p> + 'Anybody else for shore?' he cried, and the savage trumpeting of his + voice, no less than the ready weapon in his hand, struck fear in all. + Stupidly they stared after their escaped companion, whose black head was + visible upon the water, steering for the land. And the schooner meanwhile + slipt like a racer through the pass, and met the long sea of the open + ocean with a souse of spray. + </p> + <p> + 'Fool that I was, not to have a pistol ready!' exclaimed Davis. 'Well, we + go to sea short-handed, we can't help that. You have a lame watch of it, + Mr Hay.' + </p> + <p> + 'I don't see how we are to get along,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Got to,' said the captain. 'No more Tahiti for me.' + </p> + <p> + Both turned instinctively and looked astern. The fair island was unfolding + mountain top on mountain top; Eimeo, on the port board, lifted her + splintered pinnacles; and still the schooner raced to the open sea. + </p> + <p> + 'Think!' cried the captain with a gesture, 'yesterday morning I danced for + my breakfast like a poodle dog.' + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter 5. THE CARGO OF CHAMPAGNE + </h2> + <p> + The ship's head was laid to clear Eimeo to the north, and the captain sat + down in the cabin, with a chart, a ruler, and an epitome. + </p> + <p> + 'East a half no'the,' said he, raising his face from his labours. 'Mr Hay, + you'll have to watch your dead reckoning; I want every yard she makes on + every hair's-breadth of a course. I'm going to knock a hole right straight + through the Paumotus, and that's always a near touch. Now, if this South + East Trade ever blew out of the S.E., which it don't, we might hope to lie + within half a point of our course. Say we lie within a point of it. + That'll just about weather Fakarava. Yes, sir, that's what we've got to + do, if we tack for it. Brings us through this slush of little islands in + the cleanest place: see?' And he showed where his ruler intersected the + wide-lying labyrinth of the Dangerous Archipelago. 'I wish it was night, + and I could put her about right now; we're losing time and easting. Well, + we'll do our best. And if we don't fetch Peru, we'll bring up to Ecuador. + All one, I guess. Depreciated dollars down, and no questions asked. A + remarkable fine institootion, the South American don.' + </p> + <p> + Tahiti was already some way astern, the Diadem rising from among broken + mountains—Eimeo was already close aboard, and stood black and + strange against the golden splendour of the west—when the captain + took his departure from the two islands, and the patent log was set. + </p> + <p> + Some twenty minutes later, Sally Day, who was continually leaving the + wheel to peer in at the cabin clock, announced in a shrill cry 'Fo'bell,' + and the cook was to be seen carrying the soup into the cabin. + </p> + <p> + 'I guess I'll sit down and have a pick with you,' said Davis to Herrick. + 'By the time I've done, it'll be dark, and we'll clap the hooker on the + wind for South America.' + </p> + <p> + In the cabin at one corner of the table, immediately below the lamp, and + on the lee side of a bottle of champagne, sat Huish. 'What's this? Where + did that come from?' asked the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'It's fizz, and it came from the after-'old, if you want to know,' said + Huish, and drained his mug. + </p> + <p> + 'This'll never do,' exclaimed Davis, the merchant seaman's horror of + breaking into cargo showing incongruously forth on board that stolen ship. + 'There was never any good came of games like that.' + </p> + <p> + 'You byby!' said Huish. 'A fellow would think (to 'ear him) we were on the + square! And look 'ere, you've put this job up 'ansomely for me, 'aven't + you? I'm to go on deck and steer while you two sit and guzzle, and I'm to + go by nickname, and got to call you “sir” and “mister.” Well, you look + here, my bloke: I'll have fizz ad lib., or it won't wash. I tell you that. + And you know mighty well, you ain't got any man-of-war to signal now.' + </p> + <p> + Davis was staggered. 'I'd give fifty dollars this had never happened,' he + said weakly. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, it 'as 'appened, you see,' returned Huish. 'Try some; it's devilish + good.' + </p> + <p> + The Rubicon was crossed without another struggle. The captain filled a mug + and drank. + </p> + <p> + 'I wish it was beer,' he said with a sigh. 'But there's no denying it's + the genuine stuff and cheap at the money. Now, Huish, you clear out and + take your wheel.' + </p> + <p> + The little wretch had gained a point, and he was gay. 'Ay, ay, sir,' said + he, and left the others to their meal. + </p> + <p> + 'Pea soup!' exclaimed the captain. 'Blamed if I thought I should taste pea + soup again!' + </p> + <p> + Herrick sat inert and silent. It was impossible after these months of + hopeless want to smell the rough, high-spiced sea victuals without lust, + and his mouth watered with desire of the champagne. It was no less + impossible to have assisted at the scene between Huish and the captain, + and not to perceive, with sudden bluntness, the gulf where he had fallen. + He was a thief among thieves. He said it to himself. He could not touch + the soup. If he had moved at all, it must have been to leave the table, + throw himself overboard, and drown—an honest man. + </p> + <p> + 'Here,' said the captain, 'you look sick, old man; have a drop of this.' + </p> + <p> + The champagne creamed and bubbled in the mug; its bright colour, its + lively effervescence, seized his eye. 'It is too late to hesitate,' he + thought; his hand took the mug instinctively; he drank, with unquenchable + pleasure and desire of more; drained the vessel dry, and set it down with + sparkling eyes. + </p> + <p> + 'There is something in life after all!' he cried. 'I had forgot what it + was like. Yes, even this is worth while. Wine, food, dry clothes—why, + they're worth dying, worth hanging, for! Captain, tell me one thing: why + aren't all the poor folk foot-pads?' + </p> + <p> + 'Give it up,' said the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'They must be damned good,' cried Herrick. 'There's something here beyond + me. Think of that calaboose! Suppose we were sent suddenly back.' He + shuddered as though stung by a convulsion, and buried his face in his + clutching hands. + </p> + <p> + 'Here, what's wrong with you?' cried the captain. There was no reply; only + Herrick's shoulders heaved, so that the table was shaken. 'Take some more + of this. Here, drink this. I order you to. Don't start crying when you're + out of the wood.' + </p> + <p> + 'I'm not crying,' said Herrick, raising his face and showing his dry eyes. + 'It's worse than crying. It's the horror of that grave that we've escaped + from.' + </p> + <p> + 'Come now, you tackle your soup; that'll fix you,' said Davis kindly. 'I + told you you were all broken up. You couldn't have stood out another + week.' + </p> + <p> + 'That's the dreadful part of it!' cried Herrick. 'Another week and I'd + have murdered someone for a dollar! God! and I know that? And I'm still + living? It's some beastly dream.' + </p> + <p> + 'Quietly, quietly! Quietly does it, my son. Take your pea soup. Food, + that's what you want,' said Davis. + </p> + <p> + The soup strengthened and quieted Herrick's nerves; another glass of wine, + and a piece of pickled pork and fried banana completed what the soup + began; and he was able once more to look the captain in the face. + </p> + <p> + 'I didn't know I was so much run down,' he said. + </p> + <p> + 'Well,' said Davis, 'you were as steady as a rock all day: now you've had + a little lunch, you'll be as steady as a rock again.' + </p> + <p> + 'Yes,'was the reply, 'I'm steady enough now, but I'm a queer kind of a + first officer.' + </p> + <p> + 'Shucks!' cried the captain. 'You've only got to mind the ship's course, + and keep your slate to half a point. A babby could do that, let alone a + college graduate like you. There ain't nothing TO sailoring, when you come + to look it in the face. And now we'll go and put her about. Bring the + slate; we'll have to start our dead reckoning right away.' + </p> + <p> + The distance run since the departure was read off the log by the binnacle + light and entered on the slate. + </p> + <p> + 'Ready about,' said the captain. 'Give me the wheel, White Man, and you + stand by the mainsheet. Boom tackle, Mr Hay, please, and then you can jump + forward and attend head sails.' + </p> + <p> + 'Ay, ay, sir,' responded Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'All clear forward?' asked Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'All clear, sir.' + </p> + <p> + 'Hard a-lee!' cried the captain. 'Haul in your slack as she comes,' he + called to Huish. 'Haul in your slack, put your back into it; keep your + feet out of the coils.' A sudden blow sent Huish flat along the deck, and + the captain was in his place. 'Pick yourself up and keep the wheel hard + over!' he roared. 'You wooden fool, you wanted to get killed, I guess. + Draw the jib,' he cried a moment later; and then to Huish, 'Give me the + wheel again, and see if you can coil that sheet.' + </p> + <p> + But Huish stood and looked at Davis with an evil countenance. 'Do you know + you struck me?' said he. + </p> + <p> + 'Do you know I saved your life?' returned the other, not deigning to look + at him, his eyes travelling instead between the compass and the sails. + 'Where would you have been, if that boom had swung out and you bundled in + the clack? No, SIR, we'll have no more of you at the mainsheet. Seaport + towns are full of mainsheet-men; they hop upon one leg, my son, what's + left of them, and the rest are dead. (Set your boom tackle, Mr Hay.) + Struck you, did I? Lucky for you I did.' + </p> + <p> + 'Well,' said Huish slowly, 'I daresay there may be somethink in that. 'Ope + there is.' He turned his back elaborately on the captain, and entered the + house, where the speedy explosion of a champagne cork showed he was + attending to his comfort. + </p> + <p> + Herrick came aft to the captain. 'How is she doing now?' he asked. + </p> + <p> + 'East and by no'the a half no'the,' said Davis. 'It's about as good as I + expected.' + </p> + <p> + 'What'll the hands think of it?' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, they don't think. They ain't paid to,' says the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'There was something wrong, was there not? between you and—' Herrick + paused. + </p> + <p> + 'That's a nasty little beast, that's a biter,' replied the captain, + shaking his head. 'But so long as you and me hang in, it don't matter.' + </p> + <p> + Herrick lay down in the weather alleyway; the night was cloudless, the + movement of the ship cradled him, he was oppressed besides by the first + generous meal after so long a time of famine; and he was recalled from + deep sleep by the voice of Davis singing out: 'Eight bells!' + </p> + <p> + He rose stupidly, and staggered aft, where the captain gave him the wheel. + </p> + <p> + 'By the wind,' said the captain. 'It comes a little puffy; when you get a + heavy puff, steal all you can to windward, but keep her a good full.' + </p> + <p> + He stepped towards the house, paused and hailed the forecastle. + </p> + <p> + 'Got such a thing as a concertina forward?' said he. 'Bully for you, Uncle + Ned. Fetch it aft, will you?' + </p> + <p> + The schooner steered very easy; and Herrick, watching the moon-whitened + sails, was overpowered by drowsiness. A sharp report from the cabin + startled him; a third bottle had been opened; and Herrick remembered the + Sea Ranger and Fourteen Island Group. Presently the notes of the accordion + sounded, and then the captain's voice: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'O honey, with our pockets full of money, + + We will trip, trip, trip, we will trip it on the quay, + + And I will dance with Kate, and Tom will dance with Sall, + + When we're all back from South Amerikee.' +</pre> + <p> + So it went to its quaint air; and the watch below lingered and listened by + the forward door, and Uncle Ned was to be seen in the moonlight nodding + time; and Herrick smiled at the wheel, his anxieties a while forgotten. + Song followed song; another cork exploded; there were voices raised, as + though the pair in the cabin were in disagreement; and presently it seemed + the breach was healed; for it was now the voice of Huish that struck up, + to the captain's accompaniment— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'Up in a balloon, boys, + + Up in a balloon, + + All among the little stars + + And round about the moon.' +</pre> + <p> + A wave of nausea overcame Herrick at the wheel. He wondered why the air, + the words (which were yet written with a certain knack), and the voice and + accent of the singer, should all jar his spirit like a file on a man's + teeth. He sickened at the thought of his two comrades drinking away their + reason upon stolen wine, quarrelling and hiccupping and waking up, while + the doors of the prison yawned for them in the near future. 'Shall I have + sold my honour for nothing?' he thought; and a heat of rage and resolution + glowed in his bosom—rage against his comrades—resolution to + carry through this business if it might be carried; pluck profit out of + shame, since the shame at least was now inevitable; and come home, home + from South America—how did the song go?—'with his pockets full + of money': + </p> + <p> + 'O honey, with our pockets full of money, + </p> + <p> + We will trip, trip, trip, we will trip it on the quay:' + </p> + <p> + so the words ran in his head; and the honey took on visible form, the quay + rose before him and he knew it for the lamplit Embankment, and he saw the + lights of Battersea bridge bestride the sullen river. All through the + remainder of his trick, he stood entranced, reviewing the past. He had + been always true to his love, but not always sedulous to recall her. In + the growing calamity of his life, she had swum more distant, like the moon + in mist. The letter of farewell, the dishonourable hope that had surprised + and corrupted him in his distress, the changed scene, the sea, the night + and the music—all stirred him to the roots of manhood. 'I WILL win + her,' he thought, and ground his teeth. 'Fair or foul, what matters if I + win her?' + </p> + <p> + 'Fo' bell, matey. I think um fo' bell'—he was suddenly recalled by + these words in the voice of Uncle Ned. + </p> + <p> + 'Look in at the clock, Uncle,' said he. He would not look himself, from + horror of the tipplers. + </p> + <p> + 'Him past, matey,' repeated the Hawaiian. + </p> + <p> + 'So much the better for you, Uncle,' he replied; and he gave up the wheel, + repeating the directions as he had received them. + </p> + <p> + He took two steps forward and remembered his dead reckoning. 'How has she + been heading?' he thought; and he flushed from head to foot. He had not + observed or had forgotten; here was the old incompetence; the slate must + be filled up by guess. 'Never again!' he vowed to himself in silent fury, + 'never again. It shall be no fault of mine if this miscarry.' And for the + remainder of his watch, he stood close by Uncle Ned, and read the face of + the compass as perhaps he had never read a letter from his sweetheart. + </p> + <p> + All the time, and spurring him to the more attention, song, loud talk, + fleering laughter and the occasional popping of a cork, reached his ears + from the interior of the house; and when the port watch was relieved at + midnight, Huish and the captain appeared upon the quarter-deck with + flushed faces and uneven steps, the former laden with bottles, the latter + with two tin mugs. Herrick silently passed them by. They hailed him in + thick voices, he made no answer, they cursed him for a churl, he paid no + heed although his belly quivered with disgust and rage. He closed-to the + door of the house behind him, and cast himself on a locker in the cabin—not + to sleep he thought—rather to think and to despair. Yet he had + scarce turned twice on his uneasy bed, before a drunken voice hailed him + in the ear, and he must go on deck again to stand the morning watch. + </p> + <p> + The first evening set the model for those that were to follow. Two cases + of champagne scarce lasted the four-and-twenty hours, and almost the whole + was drunk by Huish and the captain. Huish seemed to thrive on the excess; + he was never sober, yet never wholly tipsy; the food and the sea air had + soon healed him of his disease, and he began to lay on flesh. But with + Davis things went worse. In the drooping, unbuttoned figure that sprawled + all day upon the lockers, tippling and reading novels; in the fool who + made of the evening watch a public carouse on the quarter-deck, it would + have been hard to recognise the vigorous seaman of Papeete roads. He kept + himself reasonably well in hand till he had taken the sun and yawned and + blotted through his calculations; but from the moment he rolled up the + chart, his hours were passed in slavish self-indulgence or in hoggish + slumber. Every other branch of his duty was neglected, except maintaining + a stern discipline about the dinner table. Again and again Herrick would + hear the cook called aft, and see him running with fresh tins, or carrying + away again a meal that had been totally condemned. And the more the + captain became sunk in drunkenness, the more delicate his palate showed + itself. Once, in the forenoon, he had a bo'sun's chair rigged over the + rail, stripped to his trousers, and went overboard with a pot of paint. 'I + don't like the way this schooner's painted,' said he, 'and I've taken a + down upon her name.' But he tired of it in half an hour, and the schooner + went on her way with an incongruous patch of colour on the stern, and the + word Farallone part obliterated and part looking through. He refused to + stand either the middle or the morning watch. It was fine-weather sailing, + he said; and asked, with a laugh, 'Who ever heard of the old man standing + watch himself?' To the dead reckoning which Herrick still tried to keep, + he would pay not the least attention nor afford the least assistance. + </p> + <p> + 'What do we want of dead reckoning?' he asked. 'We get the sun all right, + don't we?' + </p> + <p> + 'We mayn't get it always though,' objected Herrick. 'And you told me + yourself you weren't sure of the chronometer.' + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, there ain't no flies in the chronometer!' cried Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'Oblige me so far, captain,' said Herrick stiffly. 'I am anxious to keep + this reckoning, which is a part of my duty; I do not know what to allow + for current, nor how to allow for it. I am too inexperienced; and I beg of + you to help me.' + </p> + <p> + 'Never discourage zealous officer,' said the captain, unrolling the chart + again, for Herrick had taken him over his day's work and while he was + still partly sober. 'Here it is: look for yourself; anything from west to + west no'the-west, and anyways from five to twenty-five miles. That's what + the A'm'ralty chart says; I guess you don't expect to get on ahead of your + own Britishers?' + </p> + <p> + 'I am trying to do my duty, Captain Brown,' said Herrick, with a dark + flush, 'and I have the honour to inform you that I don't enjoy being + trifled with.' + </p> + <p> + 'What in thunder do you want?' roared Davis. 'Go and look at the blamed + wake. If you're trying to do your duty, why don't you go and do it? I + guess it's no business of mine to go and stick my head over the ship's + rump? I guess it's yours. And I'll tell you what it is, my fine fellow, + I'll trouble you not to come the dude over me. You're insolent, that's + what's wrong with you. Don't you crowd me, Mr Herrick, Esquire.' + </p> + <p> + Herrick tore up his papers, threw them on the floor, and left the cabin. + </p> + <p> + 'He's turned a bloomin' swot, ain't he?' sneered Huish. + </p> + <p> + 'He thinks himself too good for his company, that's what ails Herrick, + Esquire,' raged the captain. 'He thinks I don't understand when he comes + the heavy swell. Won't sit down with us, won't he? won't say a civil word? + I'll serve the son of a gun as he deserves. By God, Huish, I'll show him + whether he's too good for John Davis!' + </p> + <p> + 'Easy with the names, cap',' said Huish, who was always the more sober. + 'Easy over the stones, my boy!' + </p> + <p> + 'All right, I will. You're a good sort, Huish. I didn't take to you at + first, but I guess you're right enough. Let's open another bottle,' said + the captain; and that day, perhaps because he was excited by the quarrel, + he drank more recklessly, and by four o'clock was stretched insensible + upon the locker. + </p> + <p> + Herrick and Huish supped alone, one after the other, opposite his flushed + and snorting body. And if the sight killed Herrick's hunger, the isolation + weighed so heavily on the clerk's spirit, that he was scarce risen from + table ere he was currying favour with his former comrade. + </p> + <p> + Herrick was at the wheel when he approached, and Huish leaned + confidentially across the binnacle. + </p> + <p> + 'I say, old chappie,' he said, 'you and me don't seem to be such pals + somehow.' + </p> + <p> + Herrick gave her a spoke or two in silence; his eye, as it skirted from + the needle to the luff of the foresail, passed the man by without + speculation. But Huish was really dull, a thing he could support with + difficulty, having no resources of his own. The idea of a private talk + with Herrick, at this stage of their relations, held out particular + inducements to a person of his character. Drink besides, as it renders + some men hyper-sensitive, made Huish callous. And it would almost have + required a blow to make him quit his purpose. + </p> + <p> + 'Pretty business, ain't it?' he continued; 'Dyvis on the lush? Must say I + thought you gave it 'im A1 today. He didn't like it a bit; took on hawful + after you were gone.—“'Ere,” says I, “'old on, easy on the lush,” I + says. “'Errick was right, and you know it. Give 'im a chanst,” I says.—“Uish,” + sezee, “don't you gimme no more of your jaw, or I'll knock your bloomin' + eyes out.” Well, wot can I do, 'Errick? But I tell you, I don't 'arf like + it. It looks to me like the Sea Rynger over again.' + </p> + <p> + Still Herrick was silent. + </p> + <p> + 'Do you hear me speak?' asked Huish sharply. 'You're pleasant, ain't you?' + </p> + <p> + 'Stand away from that binnacle,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + The clerk looked at him, long and straight and black; his figure seemed to + writhe like that of a snake about to strike; then he turned on his heel, + went back to the cabin and opened a bottle of champagne. When eight bells + were cried, he slept on the floor beside the captain on the locker; and of + the whole starboard watch, only Sally Day appeared upon the summons. The + mate proposed to stand the watch with him, and let Uncle Ned lie down; it + would make twelve hours on deck, and probably sixteen, but in this + fair-weather sailing, he might safely sleep between his tricks of wheel, + leaving orders to be called on any sign of squalls. So far he could trust + the men, between whom and himself a close relation had sprung up. With + Uncle Ned he held long nocturnal conversations, and the old man told him + his simple and hard story of exile, suffering, and injustice among cruel + whites. The cook, when he found Herrick messed alone, produced for him + unexpected and sometimes unpalatable dainties, of which he forced himself + to eat. And one day, when he was forward, he was surprised to feel a + caressing hand run down his shoulder, and to hear the voice of Sally Day + crooning in his ear: 'You gootch man!' He turned, and, choking down a sob, + shook hands with the negrito. They were kindly, cheery, childish souls. + Upon the Sunday each brought forth his separate Bible—for they were + all men of alien speech even to each other, and Sally Day communicated + with his mates in English only, each read or made believe to read his + chapter, Uncle Ned with spectacles on his nose; and they would all join + together in the singing of missionary hymns. It was thus a cutting reproof + to compare the islanders and the whites aboard the Farallone. Shame ran in + Herrick's blood to remember what employment he was on, and to see these + poor souls—and even Sally Day, the child of cannibals, in all + likelihood a cannibal himself—so faithful to what they knew of good. + The fact that he was held in grateful favour by these innocents served + like blinders to his conscience, and there were times when he was + inclined, with Sally Day, to call himself a good man. But the height of + his favour was only now to appear. With one voice, the crew protested; ere + Herrick knew what they were doing, the cook was aroused and came a willing + volunteer; all hands clustered about their mate with expostulations and + caresses; and he was bidden to lie down and take his customary rest + without alarm. + </p> + <p> + 'He tell you tlue,' said Uncle Ned. 'You sleep. Evely man hae he do all + light. Evely man he like you too much.' + </p> + <p> + Herrick struggled, and gave way; choked upon some trivial words of + gratitude; and walked to the side of the house, against which he leaned, + struggling with emotion. + </p> + <p> + Uncle Ned presently followed him and begged him to lie down. + </p> + <p> + 'It's no use, Uncle Ned,' he replied. 'I couldn't sleep. I'm knocked over + with all your goodness.' + </p> + <p> + 'Ah, no call me Uncle Ned no mo'!' cried the old man. 'No my name! My name + Taveeta, all-e-same Taveeta King of Islael. Wat for he call that Hawaii? I + think no savvy nothing—all-e-same Wise-a-mana.' + </p> + <p> + It was the first time the name of the late captain had been mentioned, and + Herrick grasped the occasion. The reader shall be spared Uncle Ned's + unwieldy dialect, and learn in less embarrassing English, the sum of what + he now communicated. The ship had scarce cleared the Golden Gates before + the captain and mate had entered on a career of drunkenness, which was + scarcely interrupted by their malady and only closed by death. For days + and weeks they had encountered neither land nor ship; and seeing + themselves lost on the huge deep with their insane conductors, the natives + had drunk deep of terror. + </p> + <p> + At length they made a low island, and went in; and Wiseman and Wishart + landed in the boat. + </p> + <p> + There was a great village, a very fine village, and plenty Kanakas in that + place; but all mighty serious; and from every here and there in the back + parts of the settlement, Taveeta heard the sounds of island lamentation. + 'I no savvy TALK that island,' said he. 'I savvy hear um CLY. I think, + Hum! too many people die here!' But upon Wiseman and Wishart the + significance of that barbaric keening was lost. Full of bread and drink, + they rollicked along unconcerned, embraced the girls who had scarce energy + to repel them, took up and joined (with drunken voices) in the death wail, + and at last (on what they took to be an invitation) entered under the roof + of a house in which was a considerable concourse of people sitting silent. + They stooped below the eaves, flushed and laughing; within a minute they + came forth again with changed faces and silent tongues; and as the press + severed to make way for them, Taveeta was able to perceive, in the deep + shadow of the house, the sick man raising from his mat a head already + defeatured by disease. The two tragic triflers fled without hesitation for + their boat, screaming on Taveeta to make haste; they came aboard with all + speed of oars, raised anchor and crowded sail upon the ship with blows and + curses, and were at sea again—and again drunk—before sunset. A + week after, and the last of the two had been committed to the deep. + Herrick asked Taveeta where that island was, and he replied that, by what + he gathered of folks' talk as they went up together from the beach, he + supposed it must be one of the Paumotus. This was in itself probable + enough, for the Dangerous Archipelago had been swept that year from east + to west by devastating smallpox; but Herrick thought it a strange course + to lie from Sydney. Then he remembered the drink. + </p> + <p> + 'Were they not surprised when they made the island?' he asked. + </p> + <p> + 'Wise-a-mana he say “dam! what this?”' was the reply. + </p> + <p> + 'O, that's it then,' said Herrick. 'I don't believe they knew where they + were.' + </p> + <p> + 'I think so too,' said Uncle Ned. 'I think no savvy. This one mo' betta,' + he added, pointing to the house where the drunken captain slumbered: + 'Take-a-sun all-e-time.' + </p> + <p> + The implied last touch completed Herrick's picture of the life and death + of his two predecessors; of their prolonged, sordid, sodden sensuality as + they sailed, they knew not whither, on their last cruise. He held but a + twinkling and unsure belief in any future state; the thought of one of + punishment he derided; yet for him (as for all) there dwelt a horror about + the end of the brutish man. Sickness fell upon him at the image thus + called up; and when he compared it with the scene in which himself was + acting, and considered the doom that seemed to brood upon the schooner, a + horror that was almost superstitious fell upon him. And yet the strange + thing was, he did not falter. He who had proved his incapacity in so many + fields, being now falsely placed amid duties which he did not understand, + without help, and it might be said without countenance, had hitherto + surpassed expectation; and even the shameful misconduct and shocking + disclosures of that night seemed but to nerve and strengthen him. He had + sold his honour; he vowed it should not be in vain; 'it shall be no fault + of mine if this miscarry,' he repeated. And in his heart he wondered at + himself. Living rage no doubt supported him; no doubt also, the sense of + the last cast, of the ships burned, of all doors closed but one, which is + so strong a tonic to the merely weak, and so deadly a depressant to the + merely cowardly. + </p> + <p> + For some time the voyage went otherwise well. They weathered Fakarava with + one board; and the wind holding well to the southward and blowing fresh, + they passed between Ranaka and Ratiu, and ran some days north-east by + east-half-east under the lee of Takume and Honden, neither of which they + made. In about 14 degrees South and between 134 and 135 degrees West, it + fell a dead calm with rather a heavy sea. The captain refused to take in + sail, the helm was lashed, no watch was set, and the Farallone rolled and + banged for three days, according to observation, in almost the same place. + The fourth morning, a little before day, a breeze sprang up and rapidly + freshened. The captain had drunk hard the night before; he was far from + sober when he was roused; and when he came on deck for the first time at + half-past eight, it was plain he had already drunk deep again at + breakfast. Herrick avoided his eye; and resigned the deck with indignation + to a man more than half-seas over. + </p> + <p> + By the loud commands of the captain and the singing out of fellows at the + ropes, he could judge from the house that sail was being crowded on the + ship; relinquished his half-eaten breakfast; and came on deck again, to + find the main and the jib topsails set, and both watches and the cook + turned out to hand the staysail. The Farallone lay already far over; the + sky was obscured with misty scud; and from the windward an ominous squall + came flying up, broadening and blackening as it rose. + </p> + <p> + Fear thrilled in Herrick's vitals. He saw death hard by; and if not death, + sure ruin. For if the Farallone lived through the coming squall, she must + surely be dismasted. With that their enterprise was at an end, and they + themselves bound prisoners to the very evidence of their crime. The + greatness of the peril and his own alarm sufficed to silence him. Pride, + wrath, and shame raged without issue in his mind; and he shut his teeth + and folded his arms close. + </p> + <p> + The captain sat in the boat to windward, bellowing orders and insults, his + eyes glazed, his face deeply congested; a bottle set between his knees, a + glass in his hand half empty. His back was to the squall, and he was at + first intent upon the setting of the sail. When that was done, and the + great trapezium of canvas had begun to draw and to trail the lee-rail of + the Farallone level with the foam, he laughed out an empty laugh, drained + his glass, sprawled back among the lumber in the boat, and fetched out a + crumpled novel. + </p> + <p> + Herrick watched him, and his indignation glowed red hot. He glanced to + windward where the squall already whitened the near sea and heralded its + coming with a singular and dismal sound. He glanced at the steersman, and + saw him clinging to the spokes with a face of a sickly blue. He saw the + crew were running to their stations without orders. And it seemed as if + something broke in his brain; and the passion of anger, so long + restrained, so long eaten in secret, burst suddenly loose and shook him + like a sail. He stepped across to the captain and smote his hand heavily + on the drunkard's shoulder. + </p> + <p> + 'You brute,' he said, in a voice that tottered, 'look behind you!' + </p> + <p> + 'Wha's that?' cried Davis, bounding in the boat and upsetting the + champagne. + </p> + <p> + 'You lost the Sea Ranger because you were a drunken sot,' said Herrick. + 'Now you're going to lose the Farallone. You're going to drown here the + same way as you drowned others, and be damned. And your daughter shall + walk the streets, and your sons be thieves like their father.' + </p> + <p> + For the moment, the words struck the captain white and foolish. 'My God!' + he cried, looking at Herrick as upon a ghost; 'my God, Herrick!' + </p> + <p> + 'Look behind you, then!' reiterated the assailant. + </p> + <p> + The wretched man, already partly sobered, did as he was told, and in the + same breath of time leaped to his feet. 'Down staysail!' he trumpeted. The + hands were thrilling for the order, and the great sail came with a run, + and fell half overboard among the racing foam. 'Jib topsail-halyards! Let + the stays'l be,' he said again. + </p> + <p> + But before it was well uttered, the squall shouted aloud and fell, in a + solid mass of wind and rain commingled, on the Farallone; and she stooped + under the blow, and lay like a thing dead. From the mind of Herrick reason + fled; he clung in the weather rigging, exulting; he was done with life, + and he gloried in the release; he gloried in the wild noises of the wind + and the choking onslaught of the rain; he gloried to die so, and now, amid + this coil of the elements. And meanwhile, in the waist up to his knees in + water—so low the schooner lay—the captain was hacking at the + foresheet with a pocket knife. It was a question of seconds, for the + Farallone drank deep of the encroaching seas. But the hand of the captain + had the advance; the foresail boom tore apart the last strands of the + sheet and crashed to leeward; the Farallone leaped up into the wind and + righted; and the peak and throat halyards, which had long been let go, + began to run at the same instant. + </p> + <p> + For some ten minutes more she careered under the impulse of the squall; + but the captain was now master of himself and of his ship, and all danger + at an end. And then, sudden as a trick change upon the stage, the squall + blew by, the wind dropped into light airs, the sun beamed forth again upon + the tattered schooner; and the captain, having secured the foresail boom + and set a couple of hands to the pump, walked aft, sober, a little pale, + and with the sodden end of a cigar still stuck between his teeth even as + the squall had found it. Herrick followed him; he could scarce recall the + violence of his late emotions, but he felt there was a scene to go + through, and he was anxious and even eager to go through with it. + </p> + <p> + The captain, turning at the house end, met him face to face, and averted + his eyes. 'We've lost the two tops'ls and the stays'l,' he gabbled. 'Good + business, we didn't lose any sticks. I guess you think we're all the + better without the kites.' + </p> + <p> + 'That's not what I'm thinking,' said Herrick, in a voice strangely quiet, + that yet echoed confusion in the captain's mind. + </p> + <p> + 'I know that,' he cried, holding up his hand. 'I know what you're + thinking. No use to say it now. I'm sober.' + </p> + <p> + 'I have to say it, though,' returned Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Hold on, Herrick; you've said enough,' said Davis. 'You've said what I + would take from no man breathing but yourself; only I know it's true.' + </p> + <p> + 'I have to tell you, Captain Brown,' pursued Herrick, 'that I resign my + position as mate. You can put me in irons or shoot me, as you please; I + will make no resistance—only, I decline in any way to help or to + obey you; and I suggest you should put Mr Huish in my place. He will make + a worthy first officer to your captain, sir.' He smiled, bowed, and turned + to walk forward. + </p> + <p> + 'Where are you going, Herrick?' cried the captain, detaining him by the + shoulder. + </p> + <p> + 'To berth forward with the men, sir,' replied Herrick, with the same + hateful smile. 'I've been long enough aft here with you—gentlemen. + </p> + <p> + 'You're wrong there,' said Davis. 'Don't you be too quick with me; there + ain't nothing wrong but the drink—it's the old story, man! Let me + get sober once, and then you'll see,' he pleaded. + </p> + <p> + 'Excuse me, I desire to see no more of you,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + The captain groaned aloud. 'You know what you said about my children?' he + broke out. + </p> + <p> + 'By rote. In case you wish me to say it you again?' asked Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Don't!' cried the captain, clapping his hands to his ears. 'Don't make me + kill a man I care for! Herrick, if you see me put glass to my lips again + till we're ashore, I give you leave to put bullet through me; I beg you to + do it! You're the only man aboard whose carcase is worth losing; do you + think I don't know that? do you think I ever went back on you? I always + knew you were in the right of it—drunk or sober, I knew that. What + do you want?—an oath? Man, you're clever enough to see that this is + sure-enough earnest.' + </p> + <p> + 'Do you mean there shall be no more drinking?' asked Herrick, 'neither by + you nor Huish? that you won't go on stealing my profits and drinking my + champagne that I gave my honour for? and that you'll attend to your + duties, and stand watch and watch, and bear your proper share of the + ship's work, instead of leaving it all on the shoulders of a landsman, and + making yourself the butt and scoff of native seamen? Is that what you + mean? If it is, be so good as to say it categorically.' + </p> + <p> + 'You put these things in a way hard for a gentleman to swallow,' said the + captain. 'You wouldn't have me say I was ashamed of myself? Trust me this + once; I'll do the square thing, and there's my hand on it.' + </p> + <p> + 'Well, I'll try it once,' said Herrick. 'Fail me again...' + </p> + <p> + 'No more now!' interrupted Davis. 'No more, old man! Enough said. You've a + riling tongue when your back's up, Herrick. Just be glad we're friends + again, the same as what I am; and go tender on the raws; I'll see as you + don't repent it. We've been mighty near death this day—don't say + whose fault it was!—pretty near hell, too, I guess. We're in a + mighty bad line of life, us two, and ought to go easy with each other.' + </p> + <p> + He was maundering; yet it seemed as if he were maundering with some + design, beating about the bush of some communication that he feared to + make, or perhaps only talking against time in terror of what Herrick might + say next. But Herrick had now spat his venom; his was a kindly nature, + and, content with his triumph, he had now begun to pity. With a few + soothing words, he sought to conclude the interview, and proposed that + they should change their clothes. + </p> + <p> + 'Not right yet,' said Davis. 'There's another thing I want to tell you + first. You know what you said about my children? I want to tell you why it + hit me so hard; I kind of think you'll feel bad about it too. It's about + my little Adar. You hadn't ought to have quite said that—but of + course I know you didn't know. She—she's dead, you see.' + </p> + <p> + 'Why, Davis!' cried Herrick. 'You've told me a dozen times she was alive! + Clear your head, man! This must be the drink.' + </p> + <p> + 'No, SIR,' said Davis. 'She's dead. Died of a bowel complaint. That was + when I was away in the brig Oregon. She lies in Portland, Maine. “Adar, + only daughter of Captain John Davis and Mariar his wife, aged five.” I had + a doll for her on board. I never took the paper off'n that doll, Herrick; + it went down the way it was with the Sea Ranger, that day I was damned.' + </p> + <p> + The Captain's eyes were fixed on the horizon, he talked with an + extraordinary softness but a complete composure; and Herrick looked upon + him with something that was almost terror. + </p> + <p> + 'Don't think I'm crazy neither,' resumed Davis. 'I've all the cold sense + that I know what to do with. But I guess a man that's unhappy's like a + child; and this is a kind of a child's game of mine. I never could act up + to the plain-cut truth, you see; so I pretend. And I warn you square; as + soon as we're through with this talk, I'll start in again with the + pretending. Only, you see, she can't walk no streets,' added the captain, + 'couldn't even make out to live and get that doll!' + </p> + <p> + Herrick laid a tremulous hand upon the captain's shoulder. + </p> + <p> + 'Don't do that,' cried Davis, recoiling from the touch. 'Can't you see I'm + all broken up the way it is? Come along, then; come along, old man; you + can put your trust in me right through; come along and get dry clothes.' + </p> + <p> + They entered the cabin, and there was Huish on his knees prising open a + case of champagne. + </p> + <p> + ''Vast, there!' cried the captain. 'No more of that. No more drinking on + this ship.' + </p> + <p> + 'Turned teetotal, 'ave you?' inquired Hu'sh. 'I'm agreeable. About time, + eh? Bloomin' nearly lost another ship, I fancy.' He took out a bottle and + began calmly to burst the wire with the spike of a corkscrew. + </p> + <p> + 'Do you hear me speak?' cried Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'I suppose I do. You speak loud enough,' said Huish. 'The trouble is that + I don't care.' + </p> + <p> + Herrick plucked the captain's sleeve. 'Let him free now,' he said. 'We've + had all we want this morning.' + </p> + <p> + 'Let him have it then,' said the captain. 'It's his last.' + </p> + <p> + By this time the wire was open, the string was cut, the head of glided + paper was torn away; and Huish waited, mug in hand, expecting the usual + explosion. It did not follow. He eased the cork with his thumb; still + there was no result. At last he took the screw and drew it. It came out + very easy and with scarce a sound. + </p> + <p> + ''Illo!' said Huish. ''Ere's a bad bottle.' + </p> + <p> + He poured some of the wine into the mug; it was colourless and still. He + smelt and tasted it. + </p> + <p> + 'W'y, wot's this?' he said. 'It's water!' + </p> + <p> + If the voice of trumpets had suddenly sounded about the ship in the midst + of the sea, the three men in the house could scarcely have been more + stunned than by this incident. The mug passed round; each sipped, each + smelt of it; each stared at the bottle in its glory of gold paper as + Crusoe may have stared at the footprint; and their minds were swift to fix + upon a common apprehension. The difference between a bottle of champagne + and a bottle of water is not great; between a shipload of one or the other + lay the whole scale from riches to ruin. + </p> + <p> + A second bottle was broached. There were two cases standing ready in a + stateroom; these two were brought out, broken open, and tested. Still with + the same result: the contents were still colourless and tasteless, and + dead as the rain in a beached fishing-boat. + </p> + <p> + 'Crikey!' said Huish. + </p> + <p> + 'Here, let's sample the hold!' said the captain, mopping his brow with a + back-handed sweep; and the three stalked out of the house, grim and + heavy-footed. + </p> + <p> + All hands were turned out; two Kanakas were sent below, another stationed + at a purchase; and Davis, axe in hand, took his place beside the coamings. + </p> + <p> + 'Are you going to let the men know?' whispered Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Damn the men!' said Davis. 'It's beyond that. We've got to know + ourselves.' + </p> + <p> + Three cases were sent on deck and sampled in turn; from each bottle, as + the captain smashed it with the axe, the champagne ran bubbling and + creaming. + </p> + <p> + 'Go deeper, can't you?' cried Davis to the Kanakas in the hold. + </p> + <p> + The command gave the signal for a disastrous change. Case after case came + up, bottle after bottle was burst and bled mere water. Deeper yet, and + they came upon a layer where there was scarcely so much as the intention + to deceive; where the cases were no longer branded, the bottles no longer + wired or papered, where the fraud was manifest and stared them in the + face. + </p> + <p> + 'Here's about enough of this foolery!' said Davis. 'Stow back the cases in + the hold, Uncle, and get the broken crockery overboard. Come with me,' he + added to his co-adventurers, and led the way back into the cabin. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter 6. THE PARTNERS + </h2> + <p> + Each took a side of the fixed table; it was the first time they had sat + down at it together; but now all sense of incongruity, all memory of + differences, was quite swept away by the presence of the common ruin. + </p> + <p> + 'Gentlemen,' said the captain, after a pause, and with very much the air + of a chairman opening a board-meeting, 'we're sold.' + </p> + <p> + Huish broke out in laughter. 'Well, if this ain't the 'ighest old rig!' he + cried. 'And Dyvis, 'ere, who thought he had got up so bloomin' early in + the mornin'! We've stolen a cargo of spring water! Oh, my crikey!' and he + squirmed with mirth. + </p> + <p> + The captain managed to screw out a phantom smile. + </p> + <p> + 'Here's Old Man Destiny again,' said he to Herrick, 'but this time I guess + he's kicked the door right in.' + </p> + <p> + Herrick only shook his head. + </p> + <p> + 'O Lord, it's rich!' laughed Huish. 'It would really be a scrumptious lark + if it 'ad 'appened to somebody else! And wot are we to do next? Oh, my + eye! with this bloomin' schooner, too?' + </p> + <p> + 'That's the trouble,' said Davis. 'There's only one thing certain: it's no + use carting this old glass and ballast to Peru. No, SIR, we're in a hole.' + </p> + <p> + 'O my, and the merchand' cried Huish; 'the man that made this shipment! + He'll get the news by the mail brigantine; and he'll think of course we're + making straight for Sydney.' + </p> + <p> + 'Yes, he'll be a sick merchant,' said the captain. 'One thing: this + explains the Kanaka crew. If you're going to lose a ship, I would ask no + better myself than a Kanaka crew. But there's one thing it don't explain; + it don't explain why she came down Tahiti ways.' + </p> + <p> + 'Wy, to lose her, you byby!' said Huish. + </p> + <p> + 'A lot you know,' said the captain. 'Nobody wants to lose a schooner; they + want to lose her ON HER COURSE, you skeericks! You seem to think + underwriters haven't got enough sense to come in out of the rain.' + </p> + <p> + 'Well,' said Herrick, 'I can tell you (I am afraid) why she came so far to + the eastward. I had it of Uncle Ned. It seems these two unhappy devils, + Wiseman and Wishart, were drunk on the champagne from the beginning—and + died drunk at the end.' + </p> + <p> + The captain looked on the table. + </p> + <p> + 'They lay in their two bunks, or sat here in this damned house,' he + pursued, with rising agitation, 'filling their skins with the accursed + stuff, till sickness took them. As they sickened and the fever rose, they + drank the more. They lay here howling and groaning, drunk and dying, all + in one. They didn't know where they were, they didn't care. They didn't + even take the sun, it seems.' + </p> + <p> + 'Not take the sun?' cried the captain, looking up. 'Sacred Billy! what a + crowd!' + </p> + <p> + 'Well, it don't matter to Joe!' said Huish. 'Wot are Wiseman and the + t'other buffer to us?' + </p> + <p> + 'A good deal, too,' says the captain. 'We're their heirs, I guess.' + </p> + <p> + 'It is a great inheritance,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, I don't know about that,' returned Davis. 'Appears to me as if it + might be worse. 'Tain't worth what the cargo would have been of course, at + least not money down. But I'll tell you what it appears to figure up to. + Appears to me as if it amounted to about the bottom dollar of the man in + 'Frisco.' + </p> + <p> + ''Old on,' said Huish. 'Give a fellow time; 'ow's this, umpire?' + </p> + <p> + 'Well, my sons,' pursued the captain, who seemed to have recovered his + assurance, 'Wiseman and Wishart were to be paid for casting away this old + schooner and its cargo. We're going to cast away the schooner right + enough; and I'll make it my private business to see that we get paid. What + were W. and W. to get? That's more'n I can tell. But W. and W. went into + this business themselves, they were on the crook. Now WE'RE on the square, + we only stumbled into it; and that merchant has just got to squeal, and + I'm the man to see that he squeals good. No, sir! there's some stuffing to + this Farallone racket after all.' + </p> + <p> + 'Go it, cap!' cried Huish. 'Yoicks! Forrard! 'Old 'ard! There's your style + for the money! Blow me if I don't prefer this to the hother.' + </p> + <p> + 'I do not understand,' said Herrick. 'I have to ask you to excuse me; I do + not understand.' + </p> + <p> + 'Well now, see here, Herrick,' said Davis, 'I'm going to have a word with + you anyway upon a different matter, and it's good that Huish should hear + it too. We're done with this boozing business, and we ask your pardon for + it right here and now. We have to thank you for all you did for us while + we were making hogs of ourselves; you'll find me turn-to all right in + future; and as for the wine, which I grant we stole from you, I'll take + stock and see you paid for it. That's good enough, I believe. But what I + want to point out to you is this. The old game was a risky game. The new + game's as safe as running a Vienna Bakery. We just put this Farallone + before the wind, and run till we're well to looard of our port of + departure and reasonably well up with some other place, where they have an + American Consul. Down goes the Farallone, and good-bye to her! A day or so + in the boat; the consul packs us home, at Uncle Sam's expense, to 'Frisco; + and if that merchant don't put the dollars down, you come to me!' + </p> + <p> + 'But I thought,' began Herrick; and then broke out; 'oh, let's get on to + Peru!' + </p> + <p> + 'Well, if you're going to Peru for your health, I won't say no!' replied + the captain. 'But for what other blame' shadow of a reason you should want + to go there, gets me clear. We don't want to go there with this cargo; I + don't know as old bottles is a lively article anywheres; leastways, I'll + go my bottom cent, it ain't Peru. It was always a doubt if we could sell + the schooner; I never rightly hoped to, and now I'm sure she ain't worth a + hill of beans; what's wrong with her, I don't know; I only know it's + something, or she wouldn't be here with this truck in her inside. Then + again, if we lose her, and land in Peru, where are we? We can't declare + the loss, or how did we get to Peru? In that case the merchant can't touch + the insurance; most likely he'll go bust; and don't you think you see the + three of us on the beach of Callao?' + </p> + <p> + 'There's no extradition there,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, my son, and we want to be extraded,' said the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'What's our point? We want to have a consul extrade us as far as San + Francisco and that merchant's office door. My idea is that Samoa would be + found an eligible business centre. It's dead before the wind; the States + have a consul there, and 'Frisco steamers call, so's we could skip right + back and interview the merchant.' + </p> + <p> + 'Samoa?' said Herrick. 'It will take us for ever to get there.' + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, with a fair wind!' said the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'No trouble about the log, eh?' asked Huish. + </p> + <p> + 'No, SIR,' said Davis. 'Light airs and baffling winds. Squalls and calms. + D. R.: five miles. No obs. Pumps attended. And fill in the barometer and + thermometer off of last year's trip.' 'Never saw such a voyage,' says you + to the consul. 'Thought I was going to run short...' He stopped in mid + career. 'Say,' he began again, and once more stopped. 'Beg your pardon, + Herrick,' he added with undisguised humility, 'but did you keep the run of + the stores?' + </p> + <p> + 'Had I been told to do so, it should have been done, as the rest was done, + to the best of my little ability,' said Herrick. 'As it was, the cook + helped himself to what he pleased.' + </p> + <p> + Davis looked at the table. + </p> + <p> + 'I drew it rather fine, you see,' he said at last. 'The great thing was to + clear right out of Papeete before the consul could think better of it. + Tell you what: I guess I'll take stock.' + </p> + <p> + And he rose from table and disappeared with a lamp in the lazarette. + </p> + <p> + ''Ere's another screw loose,' observed Huish. + </p> + <p> + 'My man,' said Herrick, with a sudden gleam of animosity, 'it is still + your watch on deck, and surely your wheel also?' + </p> + <p> + 'You come the 'eavy swell, don't you, ducky?' said Huish. + </p> + <p> + 'Stand away from that binnacle. Surely your w'eel, my man. Yah.' + </p> + <p> + He lit a cigar ostentatiously, and strolled into the waist with his hands + in his pockets. + </p> + <p> + In a surprisingly short time, the captain reappeared; he did not look at + Herrick, but called Huish back and sat down. + </p> + <p> + 'Well,' he began, 'I've taken stock—roughly.' He paused as if for + somebody to help him out; and none doing so, both gazing on him instead + with manifest anxiety, he yet more heavily resumed. 'Well, it won't fight. + We can't do it; that's the bed rock. I'm as sorry as what you can be, and + sorrier. We can't look near Samoa. I don't know as we could get to Peru.' + </p> + <p> + 'Wot-ju mean?' asked Huish brutally. + </p> + <p> + 'I can't 'most tell myself,' replied the captain. 'I drew it fine; I said + I did; but what's been going on here gets me! Appears as if the devil had + been around. That cook must be the holiest kind of fraud. Only twelve + days, too! Seems like craziness. I'll own up square to one thing: I seem + to have figured too fine upon the flour. But the rest—my land! I'll + never understand it! There's been more waste on this twopenny ship than + what there is to an Atlantic Liner.' He stole a glance at his companions; + nothing good was to be gleaned from their dark faces; and he had recourse + to rage. 'You wait till I interview that cook!' he roared and smote the + table with his fist. 'I'll interview the son of a gun so's he's never been + spoken to before. I'll put a bead upon the—' + </p> + <p> + 'You will not lay a finger on the man,' said Herrick. 'The fault is yours + and you know it. If you turn a savage loose in your store-room, you know + what to expect. I will not allow the man to be molested.' + </p> + <p> + It is hard to say how Davis might have taken this defiance; but he was + diverted to a fresh assailant. + </p> + <p> + 'Well!' drawled Huish, 'you're a plummy captain, ain't you? You're a + blooming captain! Don't you, set up any of your chat to me, John Dyvis: I + know you now, you ain't any more use than a bloomin' dawl! Oh, you “don't + know”, don't you? Oh, it “gets you”, do it? Oh, I dessay! W'y, we en't you + 'owling for fresh tins every blessed day? 'Ow often 'ave I 'eard you send + the 'ole bloomin' dinner off and tell the man to chuck it in the swill + tub? And breakfast? Oh, my crikey! breakfast for ten, and you 'ollerin' + for more! And now you “can't 'most tell”! Blow me, if it ain't enough to + make a man write an insultin' letter to Gawd! You dror it mild, John + Dyvis; don't 'andle me; I'm dyngerous.' + </p> + <p> + Davis sat like one bemused; it might even have been doubted if he heard, + but the voice of the clerk rang about the cabin like that of a cormorant + among the ledges of the cliff. + </p> + <p> + 'That will do, Huish,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, so you tyke his part, do you? you stuck-up sneerin' snob! Tyke it + then. Come on, the pair of you. But as for John Dyvis, let him look out! + He struck me the first night aboard, and I never took a blow yet but wot I + gave as good. Let him knuckle down on his marrow bones and beg my pardon. + That's my last word.' + </p> + <p> + 'I stand by the Captain,' said Herrick. 'That makes us two to one, both + good men; and the crew will all follow me. I hope I shall die very soon; + but I have not the least objection to killing you before I go. I should + prefer it so; I should do it with no more remorse than winking. Take care—take + care, you little cad!' + </p> + <p> + The animosity with which these words were uttered was so marked in itself, + and so remarkable in the man who uttered them that Huish stared, and even + the humiliated Davis reared up his head and gazed at his defender. As for + Herrick, the successive agitations and disappointments of the day had left + him wholly reckless; he was conscious of a pleasant glow, an agreeable + excitement; his head seemed empty, his eyeballs burned as he turned them, + his throat was dry as a biscuit; the least dangerous man by nature, except + in so far as the weak are always dangerous, at that moment he was ready to + slay or to be slain with equal unconcern. + </p> + <p> + Here at least was the gage thrown down, and battle offered; he who should + speak next would bring the matter to an issue there and then; all knew it + to be so and hung back; and for many seconds by the cabin clock, the trio + sat motionless and silent. + </p> + <p> + Then came an interruption, welcome as the flowers in May. + </p> + <p> + 'Land ho!' sang out a voice on deck. 'Land a weatha bow!' + </p> + <p> + 'Land!' cried Davis, springing to his feet. 'What's this? There ain't no + land here.' + </p> + <p> + And as men may run from the chamber of a murdered corpse, the three ran + forth out of the house and left their quarrel behind them, undecided. + </p> + <p> + The sky shaded down at the sea level to the white of opals; the sea + itself, insolently, inkily blue, drew all about them the uncompromising + wheel of the horizon. Search it as they pleased, not even the practisect + eye of Captain Davis could descry the smallest interruption. A few filmy + clouds were slowly melting overhead; and about the schooner, as around the + only point of interest, a tropic bird, white as a snowflake, hung, and + circled, and displayed, as it turned, the long vermilion feather of its + tall. Save the sea and the heaven, that was all. + </p> + <p> + 'Who sang out land?' asked Davis. 'If there's any boy playing funny dog + with me, I'll teach him skylarking!' + </p> + <p> + But Uncle Ned contentedly pointed to a part of the horizon, where a + greenish, filmy iridescence could be discerned floating like smoke on the + pale heavens. + </p> + <p> + Davis applied his glass to it, and then looked at the Kanaka. 'Call that + land?' said he. 'Well, it's more than I do.' + </p> + <p> + 'One time long ago,' said Uncle Ned, 'I see Anaa all-e-same that, four + five hours befo' we come up. Capena he say sun go down, sun go up again; + he say lagoon all-e-same milla.' + </p> + <p> + 'All-e-same WHAT?' asked Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'Milla, sah,' said Uncle Ned. + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, ah! mirror,' said Davis. 'I see; reflection from the lagoon. Well, + you know, it is just possible, though it's strange I never heard of it. + Here, let's look at the chart.' + </p> + <p> + They went back to the cabin, and found the position of the schooner well + to windward of the archipelago in the midst of a white field of paper. + </p> + <p> + 'There! you see for yourselves,' said Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'And yet I don't know,' said Herrick, 'I somehow think there's something + in it. I'll tell you one thing too, captain; that's all right about the + reflection; I heard it in Papeete.' + </p> + <p> + 'Fetch up that Findlay, then!' said Davis. 'I'll try it all ways. An + island wouldn't come amiss, the way we're fixed.' + </p> + <p> + The bulky volume was handed up to him, broken-backed as is the way with + Findlay; and he turned to the place and began to run over the text, + muttering to himself and turning over the pages with a wetted finger. + </p> + <p> + 'Hullo!' he exclaimed. 'How's this?' And he read aloud. 'New Island. + According to M. Delille this island, which from private interests would + remain unknown, lies, it is said, in lat. 12 degrees 49' 10” S. long. 113 + degrees 6' W. In addition to the position above given Commander Matthews, + H.M.S. Scorpion, states that an island exists in lat. 12 degrees 0' S. + long. 13 degrees 16' W. This must be the same, if such an island exists, + which is very doubtful, and totally disbelieved in by South Sea traders.' + </p> + <p> + 'Golly!' said Huish. + </p> + <p> + 'It's rather in the conditional mood,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'It's anything you please,' cried Davis, 'only there it is! That's our + place, and don't you make any mistake.' + </p> + <p> + “'Which from private interests would remain unknown,”' read Herrick, over + his shoulder. 'What may that mean?' + </p> + <p> + 'It should mean pearls,' said Davis. 'A pearling island the government + don't know about? That sounds like real estate. Or suppose it don't mean + anything. Suppose it's just an island; I guess we could fill up with fish, + and cocoanuts, and native stuff, and carry out the Samoa scheme hand over + fist. How long did he say it was before they raised Anaa? Five hours, I + think?' + </p> + <p> + 'Four or five,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + Davis stepped to the door. 'What breeze had you that time you made Anaa, + Uncle Ned?' said he. + </p> + <p> + 'Six or seven knots,' was the reply. + </p> + <p> + 'Thirty or thirty-five miles,' said Davis. 'High time we were shortening + sail, then. If it is an island, we don't want to be butting our head + against it in the dark; and if it isn't an island, we can get through it + just as well by daylight. Ready about!' he roared. + </p> + <p> + And the schooner's head was laid for that elusive glimmer in the sky, + which began already to pale in lustre and diminish in size, as the stain + of breath vanishes from a window pane. At the same time she was reefed + close down. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_PART" id="link2H_PART"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Part II + </h2> + <h3> + THE QUARTETTE + </h3> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter 7. THE PEARL-FISHER + </h2> + <p> + About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the + rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice + of breakers. Each sprang to his feet and stared and listened. The sound + was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be + distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency + against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain + for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal + weighed upon his mind. To the expert eye the isle itself was to be + inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven. And the + schooner was laid to and anxiously observed till daylight. + </p> + <p> + There was little or no morning bank. A brightening came in the east; then + a wash of some ineffable, faint, nameless hue between crimson and silver; + and then coals of fire. These glimmered a while on the sea line, and + seemed to brighten and darken and spread out, and still the night and the + stars reigned undisturbed; it was as though a spark should catch and glow + and creep along the foot of some heavy and almost incombustible + wall-hanging, and the room itself be scarce menaced. Yet a little after, + and the whole east glowed with gold and scarlet, and the hollow of heaven + was filled with the daylight. + </p> + <p> + The isle—the undiscovered, the scarce believed-in—now lay + before them and close aboard; and Herrick thought that never in his dreams + had he beheld anything more strange and delicate. The beach was + excellently white, the continuous barrier of trees inimitably green; the + land perhaps ten feet high, the trees thirty more. Every here and there, + as the schooner coasted northward, the wood was intermitted; and he could + see clear over the inconsiderable strip of land (as a man looks over a + wall) to the lagoon within—and clear over that again to where the + far side of the atoll prolonged its pencilling of trees against the + morning sky. He tortured himself to find analogies. The isle was like the + rim of a great vessel sunken in the waters; it was like the embankment of + an annular railway grown upon with wood: so slender it seemed amidst the + outrageous breakers, so frail and pretty, he would scarce have wondered to + see it sink and disappear without a sound, and the waves close smoothly + over its descent. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the captain was in the forecross-trees, glass in hand, his eyes + in every quarter, spying for an entrance, spying for signs of tenancy. But + the isle continued to unfold itself in joints, and to run out in + indeterminate capes, and still there was neither house nor man, nor the + smoke of fire. Here a multitude of sea-birds soared and twinkled, and + fished in the blue waters; and there, and for miles together, the fringe + of cocoa-palm and pandanus extended desolate, and made desirable green + bowers for nobody to visit, and the silence of death was only broken by + the throbbing of the sea. + </p> + <p> + The airs were very light, their speed was small; the heat intense. The + decks were scorching underfoot, the sun flamed overhead, brazen, out of a + brazen sky; the pitch bubbled in the seams, and the brains in the + brain-pan. And all the while the excitement of the three adventurers + glowed about their bones like a fever. They whispered, and nodded, and + pointed, and put mouth to ear, with a singular instinct of secrecy, + approaching that island underhand like eavesdroppers and thieves; and even + Davis from the cross-trees gave his orders mostly by gestures. The hands + shared in this mute strain, like dogs, without comprehending it; and + through the roar of so many miles of breakers, it was a silent ship that + approached an empty island. + </p> + <p> + At last they drew near to the break in that interminable gangway. A spur + of coral sand stood forth on the one hand; on the other a high and thick + tuft of trees cut off the view; between was the mouth of the huge laver. + Twice a day the ocean crowded in that narrow entrance and was heaped + between these frail walls; twice a day, with the return of the ebb, the + mighty surplusage of water must struggle to escape. The hour in which the + Farallone came there was the hour of flood. The sea turned (as with the + instinct of the homing pigeon) for the vast receptacle, swept eddying + through the gates, was transmuted, as it did so, into a wonder of watery + and silken hues, and brimmed into the inland sea beyond. The schooner + looked up close-hauled, and was caught and carried away by the influx like + a toy. She skimmed; she flew; a momentary shadow touched her decks from + the shore-side trees; the bottom of the channel showed up for a moment and + was in a moment gone; the next, she floated on the bosom of the lagoon, + and below, in the transparent chamber of waters, a myriad of many-coloured + fishes were sporting, a myriad pale-flowers of coral diversified the + floor. + </p> + <p> + Herrick stood transported. In the gratified lust of his eye, he forgot the + past and the present; forgot that he was menaced by a prison on the one + hand and starvation on the other; forgot that he was come to that island, + desperately foraging, clutching at expedients. A drove of fishes, painted + like the rainbow and billed like parrots, hovered up in the shadow of the + schooner, and passed clear of it, and glinted in the submarine sun. They + were beautiful, like birds, and their silent passage impressed him like a + strain of song. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, to the eye of Davis in the cross-trees, the lagoon continued to + expand its empty waters, and the long succession of the shore-side trees + to be paid out like fishing line off a reel. And still there was no mark + of habitation. The schooner, immediately on entering, had been kept away + to the nor'ard where the water seemed to be the most deep; and she was now + skimming past the tall grove of trees, which stood on that side of the + channel and denied further view. Of the whole of the low shores of the + island, only this bight remained to be revealed. And suddenly the curtain + was raised; they began to open out a haven, snugly elbowed there, and + beheld, with an astonishment beyond words, the roofs of men. + </p> + <p> + The appearance, thus 'instantaneously disclosed' to those on the deck of + the Farallone, was not that of a city, rather of a substantial country + farm with its attendant hamlet: a long line of sheds and store-houses; + apart, upon the one side, a deep-verandah'ed dwelling-house; on the other, + perhaps a dozen native huts; a building with a belfry and some rude offer + at architectural features that might be thought to mark it out for a + chapel; on the beach in front some heavy boats drawn up, and a pile of + timber running forth into the burning shallows of the lagoon. From a + flagstaff at the pierhead, the red ensign of England was displayed. + Behind, about, and over, the same tall grove of palms, which had masked + the settlement in the beginning, prolonged its root of tumultuous green + fans, and turned and ruffled overhead, and sang its silver song all day in + the wind. The place had the indescribable but unmistakable appearance of + being in commission; yet there breathed from it a sense of desertion that + was almost poignant, no human figure was to be observed going to and fro + about the houses, and there was no sound of human industry or enjoyment. + Only, on the top of the beach and hard by the flagstaff, a woman of + exorbitant stature and as white as snow was to be seen beckoning with + uplifted arm. The second glance identified her as a piece of naval + sculpture, the figure-head of a ship that had long hovered and plunged + into so many running billows, and was now brought ashore to be the ensign + and presiding genius of that empty town. + </p> + <p> + The Farallone made a soldier's breeze of it; the wind, besides, was + stronger inside than without under the lee of the land; and the stolen + schooner opened out successive objects with the swiftness of a panorama, + so that the adventurers stood speechless. The flag spoke for itself; it + was no frayed and weathered trophy that had beaten itself to pieces on the + post, flying over desolation; and to make assurance stronger, there was to + be descried in the deep shade of the verandah, a glitter of crystal and + the fluttering of white napery. If the figure-head at the pier end, with + its perpetual gesture and its leprous whiteness, reigned alone in that + hamlet as it seemed to do, it would not have reigned long. Men's hands had + been busy, men's feet stirring there, within the circuit of the clock. The + Farallones were sure of it; their eyes dug in the deep shadow of the palms + for some one hiding; if intensity of looking might have prevailed, they + would have pierced the walls of houses; and there came to them, in these + pregnant seconds, a sense of being watched and played with, and of a blow + impending, that was hardly bearable. + </p> + <p> + The extreme point of palms they had just passed enclosed a creek, which + was thus hidden up to the last moment from the eyes of those on board; and + from this, a boat put suddenly and briskly out, and a voice hailed. + </p> + <p> + 'Schooner ahoy!' it cried. 'Stand in for the pier! In two cables' lengths + you'll have twenty fathoms water and good holding ground.' + </p> + <p> + The boat was manned with a couple of brown oarsmen in scanty kilts of + blue. The speaker, who was steering, wore white clothes, the full dress of + the tropics; a wide hat shaded his face; but it could be seen that he was + of stalwart size, and his voice sounded like a gentleman's. So much could + be made out. It was plain, besides, that the Farallone had been descried + some time before at sea, and the inhabitants were prepared for its + reception. + </p> + <p> + Mechanically the orders were obeyed, and the ship berthed; and the three + adventurers gathered aft beside the house and waited, with galloping + pulses and a perfect vacancy of mind, the coming of the stranger who might + mean so much to them. They had no plan, no story prepared; there was no + time to make one; they were caught red-handed and must stand their chance. + Yet this anxiety was chequered with hope. The island being undeclared, it + was not possible the man could hold any office or be in a position to + demand their papers. And beyond that, if there was any truth in Findlay, + as it now seemed there should be, he was the representative of the + 'private reasons,' he must see their coming with a profound + disappointment; and perhaps (hope whispered) he would be willing and able + to purchase their silence. + </p> + <p> + The boat was by that time forging alongside, and they were able at last to + see what manner of man they had to do with. He was a huge fellow, six feet + four in height, and of a build proportionately strong, but his sinews + seemed to be dissolved in a listlessness that was more than languor. It + was only the eye that corrected this impression; an eye of an unusual + mingled brilliancy and softness, sombre as coal and with lights that + outshone the topaz; an eye of unimpaired health and virility; an eye that + bid you beware of the man's devastating anger. A complexion, naturally + dark, had been tanned in the island to a hue hardly distinguishable from + that of a Tahitian; only his manners and movements, and the living force + that dwelt in him, like fire in flint, betrayed the European. He was + dressed in white drill, exquisitely made; his scarf and tie were of + tender-coloured silks; on the thwart beside him there leaned a Winchester + rifle. + </p> + <p> + 'Is the doctor on board?' he cried as he came up. 'Dr Symonds, I mean? You + never heard of him? Nor yet of the Trinity Hall? Ah!' + </p> + <p> + He did not look surprised, seemed rather to affect it in politeness; but + his eye rested on each of the three white men in succession with a sudden + weight of curiosity that was almost savage. 'Ah, THEN!' said he, 'there is + some small mistake, no doubt, and I must ask you to what I am indebted for + this pleasure?' + </p> + <p> + He was by this time on the deck, but he had the art to be quite + unapproachable; the friendliest vulgarian, three parts drunk, would have + known better than take liberties; and not one of the adventurers so much + as offered to shake hands. + </p> + <p> + 'Well,' said Davis, 'I suppose you may call it an accident. We had heard + of your island, and read that thing in the Directory about the PRIVATE + REASONS, you see; so when we saw the lagoon reflected in the sky, we put + her head for it at once, and so here we are.' + </p> + <p> + ''Ope we don't intrude!' said Huish. + </p> + <p> + The stranger looked at Huish with an air of faint surprise, and looked + pointedly away again. It was hard to be more offensive in dumb show. + </p> + <p> + 'It may suit me, your coming here,' he said. 'My own schooner is overdue, + and I may put something in your way in the meantime. Are you open to a + charter?' + </p> + <p> + 'Well, I guess so,' said Davis; 'it depends.' + </p> + <p> + 'My name is Attwater,' continued the stranger. 'You, I presume, are the + captain?' + </p> + <p> + 'Yes, sir. I am the captain of this ship: Captain Brown,' was the reply. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, see 'ere!' said Huish, 'better begin fair! 'E's skipper on deck + right enough, but not below. Below, we're all equal, all got a lay in the + adventure; when it comes to business, I'm as good as 'e; and what I say + is, let's go into the 'ouse and have a lush, and talk it over among pals. + We've some prime fizz,' he said, and winked. + </p> + <p> + The presence of the gentleman lighted up like a candle the vulgarity of + the clerk; and Herrick instinctively, as one shields himself from pain, + made haste to interrupt. + </p> + <p> + 'My name is Hay,' said he, 'since introductions are going. We shall be + very glad if you will step inside.' + </p> + <p> + Attwater leaned to him swiftly. 'University man?' said he. + </p> + <p> + 'Yes, Merton,' said Herrick, and the next moment blushed scarlet at his + indiscretion. + </p> + <p> + 'I am of the other lot,' said Attwater: 'Trinity Hall, Cambridge. I called + my schooner after the old shop. Well! this is a queer place and company + for us to meet in, Mr Hay,' he pursued, with easy incivility to the + others. 'But do you bear out ... I beg this gentleman's pardon, I really + did not catch his name.' + </p> + <p> + 'My name is 'Uish, sir,' returned the clerk, and blushed in turn. + </p> + <p> + 'Ah!' said Attwater. And then turning again to Herrick, 'Do you bear out + Mr Whish's description of your vintage? or was it only the unaffected + poetry of his own nature bubbling up?' + </p> + <p> + Herrick was embarrassed; the silken brutality of their visitor made him + blush; that he should be accepted as an equal, and the others thus + pointedly ignored, pleased him in spite of himself, and then ran through + his veins in a recoil of anger. + </p> + <p> + 'I don't know,' he said. 'It's only California; it's good enough, I + believe.' + </p> + <p> + Attwater seemed to make up his mind. 'Well then, I'll tell you what: you + three gentlemen come ashore this evening and bring a basket of wine with + you; I'll try and find the food,' he said. 'And by the by, here is a + question I should have asked you when I come on board: have you had + smallpox?' + </p> + <p> + 'Personally, no,' said Herrick. 'But the schooner had it.' + </p> + <p> + 'Deaths?' from Attwater. + </p> + <p> + 'Two,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, it is a dreadful sickness,' said Attwater. + </p> + <p> + ''Ad you any deaths?' asked Huish, ''ere on the island?' + </p> + <p> + 'Twenty-nine,' said Attwater. 'Twenty-nine deaths and thirty-one cases, + out of thirty-three souls upon the island.—That's a strange way to + calculate, Mr Hay, is it not? Souls! I never say it but it startles me.' + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, so that's why everything's deserted?' said Huish. + </p> + <p> + 'That is why, Mr Whish,' said Attwater; 'that is why the house is empty + and the graveyard full.' + </p> + <p> + 'Twenty-nine out of thirty-three!' exclaimed Herrick, 'Why, when it came + to burying—or did you bother burying?' + </p> + <p> + 'Scarcely,' said Attwater; 'or there was one day at least when we gave up. + There were five of the dead that morning, and thirteen of the dying, and + no one able to go about except the sexton and myself. We held a council of + war, took the... empty bottles... into the lagoon, and buried them.' He + looked over his shoulder, back at the bright water. 'Well, so you'll come + to dinner, then? Shall we say half-past six. So good of you!' + </p> + <p> + His voice, in uttering these conventional phrases, fell at once into the + false measure of society; and Herrick unconsciously followed the example. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +'I am sure we shall be very glad,' he said. 'At half-past six? Thank you +so very much.' + + '“For my voice has been tuned to the note of the gun + + That startles the deep when the combat's begun,”' +</pre> + <p> + quoted Attwater, with a smile, which instantly gave way to an air of + funereal solemnity. 'I shall particularly expect Mr Whish,' he continued. + 'Mr Whish, I trust you understand the invitation?' + </p> + <p> + 'I believe you, my boy!' replied the genial Huish. + </p> + <p> + 'That is right then; and quite understood, is it not?' said Attwater. 'Mr + Whish and Captain Brown at six-thirty without fault—and you, Hay, at + four sharp.' + </p> + <p> + And he called his boat. + </p> + <p> + During all this talk, a load of thought or anxiety had weighed upon the + captain. There was no part for which nature had so liberally endowed him + as that of the genial ship captain. But today he was silent and + abstracted. Those who knew him could see that he hearkened close to every + syllable, and seemed to ponder and try it in balances. It would have been + hard to say what look there was, cold, attentive, and sinister, as of a + man maturing plans, which still brooded over the unconscious guest; it was + here, it was there, it was nowhere; it was now so little that Herrick chid + himself for an idle fancy; and anon it was so gross and palpable that you + could say every hair on the man's head talked mischief. + </p> + <p> + He woke up now, as with a start. 'You were talking of a charter,' said he. + </p> + <p> + 'Was I?' said Attwater. 'Well, let's talk of it no more at present.' + </p> + <p> + 'Your own schooner is overdue, I understand?' continued the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'You understand perfectly, Captain Brown,' said Attwater; 'thirty-three + days overdue at noon today.' + </p> + <p> + 'She comes and goes, eh? plies between here and...?' hinted the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'Exactly; every four months; three trips in the year,' said Attwater. + </p> + <p> + 'You go in her, ever?' asked Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'No, one stops here,' said Attwater, 'one has plenty to attend to.' + </p> + <p> + 'Stop here, do you?' cried Davis. 'Say, how long?' + </p> + <p> + 'How long, O Lord,' said Attwater with perfect, stern gravity. 'But it + does not seem so,' he added, with a smile. + </p> + <p> + 'No, I dare say not,' said Davis. 'No, I suppose not. Not with all your + gods about you, and in as snug a berth as this. For it is a pretty snug + berth,' said he, with a sweeping look. + </p> + <p> + 'The spot, as you are good enough to indicate, is not entirely + intolerable,' was the reply. + </p> + <p> + 'Shell, I suppose?' said Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'Yes, there was shell,' said Attwater. + </p> + <p> + 'This is a considerable big beast of a lagoon, sir,' said the captain. + 'Was there a—was the fishing—would you call the fishing + anyways GOOD?' + </p> + <p> + 'I don't know that I would call it anyways anything,' said Attwater, 'if + you put it to me direct.' + </p> + <p> + 'There were pearls too?' said Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'Pearls, too,' said Attwater. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, I give out!' laughed Davis, and his laughter rang cracked like a + false piece. 'If you're not going to tell, you're not going to tell, and + there's an end to it.' + </p> + <p> + 'There can be no reason why I should affect the least degree of secrecy + about my island,' returned Attwater; 'that came wholly to an end with your + arrival; and I am sure, at any rate, that gentlemen like you and Mr Whish, + I should have always been charmed to make perfectly at home. The point on + which we are now differing—if you can call it a difference—is + one of times and seasons. I have some information which you think I might + impart, and I think not. Well, we'll see tonight! By-by, Whish!' He + stepped into his boat and shoved off. 'All understood, then?' said he. + 'The captain and Mr Whish at six-thirty, and you, Hay, at four precise. + You understand that, Hay? Mind, I take no denial. If you're not there by + the time named, there will be no banquet; no song, no supper, Mr Whish!' + </p> + <p> + White birds whisked in the air above, a shoal of parti-coloured fishes in + the scarce denser medium below; between, like Mahomet's coffin, the boat + drew away briskly on the surface, and its shadow followed it over the + glittering floor of the lagoon. Attwater looked steadily back over his + shoulders as he sat; he did not once remove his eyes from the Farallone + and the group on her quarter-deck beside the house, till his boat ground + upon the pier. Thence, with an agile pace, he hurried ashore, and they saw + his white clothes shining in the chequered dusk of the grove until the + house received him. + </p> + <p> + The captain, with a gesture and a speaking countenance, called the + adventurers into the cabin. + </p> + <p> + 'Well,' he said to Herrick, when they were seated, 'there's one good job + at least. He's taken to you in earnest.' + </p> + <p> + 'Why should that be a good job?' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, you'll see how it pans out presently,' returned Davis. 'You go ashore + and stand in with him, that's all! You'll get lots of pointers; you can + find out what he has, and what the charter is, and who's the fourth man—for + there's four of them, and we're only three.' + </p> + <p> + 'And suppose I do, what next?' cried Herrick. 'Answer me that!' + </p> + <p> + 'So I will, Robert Herrick,' said the captain. 'But first, let's see all + clear. I guess you know,' he said with an imperious solemnity, 'I guess + you know the bottom is out of this Farallone speculation? I guess you know + it's RIGHT out? and if this old island hadn't been turned up right when it + did, I guess you know where you and I and Huish would have been?' + </p> + <p> + 'Yes, I know that,' said Herrick. 'No matter who's to blame, I know it. + And what next?' + </p> + <p> + 'No matter who's to blame, you know it, right enough,' said the captain, + 'and I'm obliged to you for the reminder. Now here's this Attwater: what + do you think of him?' + </p> + <p> + 'I do not know,' said Herrick. 'I am attracted and repelled. He was + insufferably rude to you.' + </p> + <p> + 'And you, Huish?' said the captain. + </p> + <p> + Huish sat cleaning a favourite briar root; he scarce looked up from that + engrossing task. 'Don't ast me what I think of him!' he said. 'There's a + day comin', I pray Gawd, when I can tell it him myself.' + </p> + <p> + 'Huish means the same as what I do,' said Davis. 'When that man came + stepping around, and saying “Look here, I'm Attwater”—and you knew + it was so, by God!—I sized him right straight up. Here's the real + article, I said, and I don't like it; here's the real, first-rate, + copper-bottomed aristocrat. 'AW' I DON'T KNOW YE, DO I? GOD DAMN YE, DID + GOD MAKE YE?' No, that couldn't be nothing but genuine; a man got to be + born to that, and notice! smart as champagne and hard as nails; no kind of + a fool; no, SIR! not a pound of him! Well, what's he here upon this + beastly island for? I said. HE'S not here collecting eggs. He's a palace + at home, and powdered flunkies; and if he don't stay there, you bet he + knows the reason why! Follow?' + </p> + <p> + 'O yes, I 'ear you,' said Huish. + </p> + <p> + 'He's been doing good business here, then,' continued the captain. 'For + ten years, he's been doing a great business. It's pearl and shell, of + course; there couldn't be nothing else in such a place, and no doubt the + shell goes off regularly by this Trinity Hall, and the money for it + straight into the bank, so that's no use to us. But what else is there? Is + there nothing else he would be likely to keep here? Is there nothing else + he would be bound to keep here? Yes, sir; the pearls! First, because + they're too valuable to trust out of his hands. Second, because pearls + want a lot of handling and matching; and the man who sells his pearls as + they come in, one here, one there, instead of hanging back and holding up—well, + that man's a fool, and it's not Attwater.' + </p> + <p> + 'Likely,' said Huish, 'that's w'at it is; not proved, but likely.' + </p> + <p> + 'It's proved,' said Davis bluntly. + </p> + <p> + 'Suppose it was?' said Herrick. 'Suppose that was all so, and he had these + pearls—a ten years' collection of them?—Suppose he had? + There's my question.' + </p> + <p> + The captain drummed with his thick hands on the board in front of him; he + looked steadily in Herrick's face, and Herrick as steadily looked upon the + table and the pattering fingers; there was a gentle oscillation of the + anchored ship, and a big patch of sunlight travelled to and fro between + the one and the other. + </p> + <p> + 'Hear me!' Herrick burst out suddenly. + </p> + <p> + 'No, you better hear me first,' said Davis. 'Hear me and understand me. + WE'VE got no use for that fellow, whatever you may have. He's your kind, + he's not ours; he's took to you, and he's wiped his boots on me and Huish. + Save him if you can!' + </p> + <p> + 'Save him?' repeated Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Save him, if you're able!' reiterated Davis, with a blow of his clenched + fist. 'Go ashore, and talk him smooth; and if you get him and his pearls + aboard, I'll spare him. If you don't, there's going to be a funeral. Is + that so, Huish? does that suit you?' + </p> + <p> + 'I ain't a forgiving man,' said Huish, 'but I'm not the sort to spoil + business neither. Bring the bloke on board and bring his pearls along with + him, and you can have it your own way; maroon him where you like—I'm + agreeable.' + </p> + <p> + 'Well, and if I can't?' cried Herrick, while the sweat streamed upon his + face. 'You talk to me as if I was God Almighty, to do this and that! But + if I can't?' + </p> + <p> + 'My son,' said the captain, 'you better do your level best, or you'll see + sights!' + </p> + <p> + 'O yes,' said Huish. 'O crikey, yes!' He looked across at Herrick with a + toothless smile that was shocking in its savagery; and his ear caught + apparently by the trivial expression he had used, broke into a piece of + the chorus of a comic song which he must have heard twenty years before in + London: meaningless gibberish that, in that hour and place, seemed hateful + as a blasphemy: 'Hikey, pikey, crikey, fikey, chillingawallaba dory.' + </p> + <p> + The captain suffered him to finish; his face was unchanged. + </p> + <p> + 'The way things are, there's many a man that wouldn't let you go ashore,' + he resumed. 'But I'm not that kind. I know you'd never go back on me, + Herrick! Or if you choose to—go, and do it, and be damned!' he + cried, and rose abruptly from the table. + </p> + <p> + He walked out of the house; and as he reached the door, turned and called + Huish, suddenly and violently, like the barking of a dog. Huish followed, + and Herrick remained alone in the cabin. + </p> + <p> + 'Now, see here!' whispered Davis. 'I know that man. If you open your mouth + to him again, you'll ruin all.' + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter 8. BETTER ACQUAINTANCE + </h2> + <p> + The boat was gone again, and already half-way to the Farallone, before + Herrick turned and went unwillingly up the pier. From the crown of the + beach, the figure-head confronted him with what seemed irony, her helmeted + head tossed back, her formidable arm apparently hurling something, whether + shell or missile, in the direction of the anchored schooner. She seemed a + defiant deity from the island, coming forth to its threshold with a rush + as of one about to fly, and perpetuated in that dashing attitude. Herrick + looked up at her, where she towered above him head and shoulders, with + singular feelings of curiosity and romance, and suffered his mind to + travel to and fro in her life-history. So long she had been the blind + conductress of a ship among the waves; so long she had stood here idle in + the violent sun, that yet did not avail to blister her; and was even this + the end of so many adventures? he wondered, or was more behind? And he + could have found in his heart to regret that she was not a goddess, nor + yet he a pagan, that he might have bowed down before her in that hour of + difficulty. + </p> + <p> + When he now went forward, it was cool with the shadow of many well-grown + palms; draughts of the dying breeze swung them together overhead; and on + all sides, with a swiftness beyond dragon-flies or swallows, the spots of + sunshine flitted, and hovered, and returned. Underfoot, the sand was + fairly solid and quite level, and Herrick's steps fell there noiseless as + in new-fallen snow. It bore the marks of having been once weeded like a + garden alley at home; but the pestilence had done its work, and the weeds + were returning. The buildings of the settlement showed here and there + through the stems of the colonnade, fresh painted, trim and dandy, and all + silent as the grave. Only, here and there in the crypt, there was a rustle + and scurry and some crowing of poultry; and from behind the house with the + verandahs, he saw smoke arise and heard the crackling of a fire. + </p> + <p> + The stone houses were nearest him upon his right. The first was locked; in + the second, he could dimly perceive, through a window, a certain + accumulation of pearl-shell piled in the far end; the third, which stood + gaping open on the afternoon, seized on the mind of Herrick with its + multiplicity and disorder of romantic things. Therein were cables, + windlasses and blocks of every size and capacity; cabin windows and + ladders; rusty tanks, a companion hutch; a binnacle with its brass + mountings and its compass idly pointing, in the confusion and dusk of that + shed, to a forgotten pole; ropes, anchors, harpoons, a blubber dipper of + copper, green with years, a steering wheel, a tool chest with the vessel's + name upon the top, the Asia: a whole curiosity-shop of sea curios, gross + and solid, heavy to lift, ill to break, bound with brass and shod with + iron. Two wrecks at the least must have contributed to this random heap of + lumber; and as Herrick looked upon it, it seemed to him as if the two + ships' companies were there on guard, and he heard the tread of feet and + whisperings, and saw with the tail of his eye the commonplace ghosts of + sailor men. + </p> + <p> + This was not merely the work of an aroused imagination, but had something + sensible to go upon; sounds of a stealthy approach were no doubt audible; + and while he still stood staring at the lumber, the voice of his host + sounded suddenly, and with even more than the customary softness of + enunciation, from behind. + </p> + <p> + 'Junk,', it said, 'only old junk! And does Mr Hay find a parable?' + </p> + <p> + 'I find at least a strong impression,' replied Herrick, turning quickly, + lest he might be able to catch, on the face of the speaker, some + commentary on the words. + </p> + <p> + Attwater stood in the doorway, which he almost wholly filled; his hands + stretched above his head and grasping the architrave. He smiled when their + eyes Met, but the expression was inscrutable. + </p> + <p> + 'Yes, a powerful impression. You are like me; nothing so affecting as + ships!' said he. 'The ruins of an empire would leave me frigid, when a bit + of an old rail that an old shellback leaned on in the middle watch, would + bring me up all standing. But come, let's see some more of the island. + It's all sand and coral and palm trees; but there's a kind of a quaintness + in the place.' + </p> + <p> + 'I find it heavenly,' said Herrick, breathing deep, with head bared in the + shadow. + </p> + <p> + 'Ah, that's because you're new from sea,' said Attwater. 'I dare say, too, + you can appreciate what one calls it. It's a lovely name. It has a + flavour, it has a colour, it has a ring and fall to it; it's like its + author—it's half Christian! Remember your first view of the island, + and how it's only woods and water; and suppose you had asked somebody for + the name, and he had answered—nemorosa Zacynthos!' + </p> + <p> + 'Jam medio apparet fluctu!' exclaimed Herrick. 'Ye gods, yes, how good!' + </p> + <p> + 'If it gets upon the chart, the skippers will make nice work of it,' said + Attwater. 'But here, come and see the diving-shed.' + </p> + <p> + He opened a door, and Herrick saw a large display of apparatus neatly + ordered: pumps and pipes, and the leaded boots, and the huge snouted + helmets shining in rows along the wall; ten complete outfits. + </p> + <p> + 'The whole eastern half of my lagoon is shallow, you must understand,' + said Attwater; 'so we were able to get in the dress to great advantage. It + paid beyond belief, and was a queer sight when they were at it, and these + marine monsters'—tapping the nearest of the helmets—'kept + appearing and reappearing in the midst of the lagoon. Fond of parables?' + he asked abruptly. + </p> + <p> + 'O yes!' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, I saw these machines come up dripping and go down again, and come + up dripping and go down again, and all the while the fellow inside as dry + as toast!' said Attwater; 'and I thought we all wanted a dress to go down + into the world in, and come up scatheless. What do you think the name + was?' he inquired. + </p> + <p> + 'Self-conceit,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Ah, but I mean seriously!' said Attwater. + </p> + <p> + 'Call it self-respect, then!' corrected Herrick, with a laugh. + </p> + <p> + 'And why not Grace? Why not God's Grace, Hay?' asked Attwater. 'Why not + the grace of your Maker and Redeemer, He who died for you, He who upholds + you, He whom you daily crucify afresh? There is nothing here,'—striking + on his bosom—'nothing there'—smiting the wall—'and + nothing there'—stamping—'nothing but God's Grace! We walk upon + it, we breathe it; we live and die by it; it makes the nails and axles of + the universe; and a puppy in pyjamas prefers self-conceit!' The huge dark + man stood over against Herrick by the line of the divers' helmets, and + seemed to swell and glow; and the next moment the life had gone from him. + 'I beg your pardon,' said he; 'I see you don't believe in God?' + </p> + <p> + 'Not in your sense, I am afraid,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'I never argue with young atheists or habitual drunkards,' said Attwater + flippantly. 'Let us go across the island to the outer beach.' + </p> + <p> + It was but a little way, the greatest width of that island scarce + exceeding a furlong, and they walked gently. Herrick was like one in a + dream. He had come there with a mind divided; come prepared to study that + ambiguous and sneering mask, drag out the essential man from underneath, + and act accordingly; decision being till then postponed. Iron cruelty, an + iron insensibility to the suffering of others, the uncompromising pursuit + of his own interests, cold culture, manners without humanity; these he had + looked for, these he still thought he saw. But to find the whole machine + thus glow with the reverberation of religious zeal, surprised him beyond + words; and he laboured in vain, as he walked, to piece together into any + kind of whole his odds and ends of knowledge—to adjust again into + any kind of focus with itself, his picture of the man beside him. + </p> + <p> + 'What brought you here to the South Seas?' he asked presently. + </p> + <p> + 'Many things,' said Attwater. 'Youth, curiosity, romance, the love of the + sea, and (it will surprise you to hear) an interest in missions. That has + a good deal declined, which will surprise you less. They go the wrong way + to work; they are too parsonish, too much of the old wife, and even the + old apple wife. CLOTHES, CLOTHES, are their idea; but clothes are not + Christianity, any more than they are the sun in heaven, or could take the + place of it! They think a parsonage with roses, and church bells, and nice + old women bobbing in the lanes, are part and parcel of religion. But + religion is a savage thing, like the universe it illuminates; savage, + cold, and bare, but infinitely strong.' + </p> + <p> + 'And you found this island by an accident?' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'As you did!' said Attwater. 'And since then I have had a business, and a + colony, and a mission of my own. I was a man of the world before I was a + Christian; I'm a man of the world still, and I made my mission pay. No + good ever came of coddling. A man has to stand up in God's sight and work + up to his weight avoirdupois; then I'll talk to him, but not before. I + gave these beggars what they wanted: a judge in Israel, the bearer of the + sword and scourge; I was making a new people here; and behold, the angel + of the Lord smote them and they were not!' + </p> + <p> + With the very uttering of the words, which were accompanied by a gesture, + they came forth out of the porch of the palm wood by the margin of the sea + and full in front of the sun which was near setting. Before them the surf + broke slowly. All around, with an air of imperfect wooden things inspired + with wicked activity, the crabs trundled and scuttled into holes. On the + right, whither Attwater pointed and abruptly turned, was the cemetery of + the island, a field of broken stones from the bigness of a child's hand to + that of his head, diversified by many mounds of the same material, and + walled by a rude rectangular enclosure. Nothing grew there but a shrub or + two with some white flowers; nothing but the number of the mounds, and + their disquieting shape, indicated the presence of the dead. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep!' +</pre> + <p> + quoted Attwater as he entered by the open gateway into that unholy close. + 'Coral to coral, pebbles to pebbles,' he said, 'this has been the main + scene of my activity in the South Pacific. Some were good, and some bad, + and the majority (of course and always) null. Here was a fellow, now, that + used to frisk like a dog; if you had called him he came like an arrow from + a bow; if you had not, and he came unbidden, you should have seen the + deprecating eye and the little intricate dancing step. Well, his trouble + is over now, he has lain down with kings and councillors; the rest of his + acts, are they not written in the book of the chronicles? That fellow was + from Penrhyn; like all the Penrhyn islanders he was ill to manage; heady, + jealous, violent: the man with the nose! He lies here quiet enough. And so + they all lie. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “And darkness was the burier of the dead!”' +</pre> + <p> + He stood, in the strong glow of the sunset, with bowed head; his voice + sounded now sweet and now bitter with the varying sense. + </p> + <p> + 'You loved these people?' cried Herrick, strangely touched. + </p> + <p> + 'I?' said Attwater. 'Dear no! Don't think me a philanthropist. I dislike + men, and hate women. If I like the islands at all, it is because you see + them here plucked of their lendings, their dead birds and cocked hats, + their petticoats and coloured hose. Here was one I liked though,' and he + set his foot upon a mound. 'He was a fine savage fellow; he had a dark + soul; yes, I liked this one. I am fanciful,' he added, looking hard at + Herrick, 'and I take fads. I like you.' + </p> + <p> + Herrick turned swiftly and looked far away to where the clouds were + beginning to troop together and amass themselves round the obsequies of + day. 'No one can like me,' he said. + </p> + <p> + 'You are wrong there,' said the other, 'as a man usually is about himself. + You are attractive, very attractive.' + </p> + <p> + 'It is not me,' said Herrick; 'no one can like me. If you knew how I + despised myself—and why!' His voice rang out in the quiet graveyard. + </p> + <p> + 'I knew that you despised yourself,' said Attwater. 'I saw the blood come + into your face today when you remembered Oxford. And I could have blushed + for you myself, to see a man, a gentleman, with these two vulgar wolves.' + </p> + <p> + Herrick faced him with a thrill. 'Wolves?' he repeated. + </p> + <p> + 'I said wolves and vulgar wolves,' said Attwater. 'Do you know that today, + when I came on board, I trembled?' + </p> + <p> + 'You concealed it well,' stammered Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'A habit of mine,' said Attwater. 'But I was afraid, for all that: I was + afraid of the two wolves.' He raised his hand slowly. 'And now, Hay, you + poor lost puppy, what do you do with the two wolves?' + </p> + <p> + 'What do I do? I don't do anything,' said Herrick. 'There is nothing + wrong; all is above board; Captain Brown is a good soul; he is a... he + is...' The phantom voice of Davis called in his ear: 'There's going to be + a funeral' and the sweat burst forth and streamed on his brow. 'He is a + family man,' he resumed again, swallowing; 'he has children at home—and + a wife.' + </p> + <p> + 'And a very nice man?' said Attwater. 'And so is Mr Whish, no doubt?' + </p> + <p> + 'I won't go so far as that,' said Herrick. 'I do not like Huish. And + yet... he has his merits too.' + </p> + <p> + 'And, in short, take them for all in all, as good a ship's company as one + would ask?' said Attwater. + </p> + <p> + 'O yes,' said Herrick, 'quite.' + </p> + <p> + 'So then we approach the other point of why you despise yourself?' said + Attwater. + </p> + <p> + 'Do we not all despise ourselves?' cried Herrick. 'Do not you?' + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, I say I do. But do I?' said Attwater. 'One thing I know at least: I + never gave a cry like yours. Hay! it came from a bad conscience! Ah, man, + that poor diving dress of self-conceit is sadly tattered! Today, now, + while the sun sets, and here in this burying place of brown innocents, + fall on your knees and cast your sins and sorrows on the Redeemer. Hay—' + </p> + <p> + 'Not Hay!' interrupted the other, strangling. 'Don't call me that! I + mean... For God's sake, can't you see I'm on the rack?' + </p> + <p> + 'I see it, I know it, I put and keep you there, my fingers are on the + screws!' said Attwater. 'Please God, I will bring a penitent this night + before His throne. Come, come to the mercy-seat! He waits to be gracious, + man—waits to be gracious!' + </p> + <p> + He spread out his arms like a crucifix, his face shone with the brightness + of a seraph's; in his voice, as it rose to the last word, the tears seemed + ready. + </p> + <p> + Herrick made a vigorous call upon himself. 'Attwater,' he said, 'you push + me beyond bearing. What am I to do? I do not believe. It is living truth + to you; to me, upon my conscience, only folk-lore. I do not believe there + is any form of words under heaven by which I can lift the burthen from my + shoulders. I must stagger on to the end with the pack of my + responsibility; I cannot shift it; do you suppose I would not, if I + thought I could? I cannot—cannot—cannot—and let that + suffice.' + </p> + <p> + The rapture was all gone from Artwater's countenance; the dark apostle had + disappeared; and in his place there stood an easy, sneering gentleman, who + took off his hat and bowed. It was pertly done, and the blood burned in + Herrick's face. + </p> + <p> + 'What do you mean by that?' he cried. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, shall we go back to the house?' said Attwater. 'Our guests will + soon be due.' + </p> + <p> + Herrick stood his ground a moment with clenched fists and teeth; and as he + so stood, the fact of his errand there slowly swung clear in front of him, + like the moon out of clouds. He had come to lure that man on board; he was + failing, even if it could be said that he had tried; he was sure to fail + now, and knew it, and knew it was better so. And what was to be next? + </p> + <p> + With a groan he turned to follow his host, who was standing with polite + smile, and instantly and somewhat obsequiously led the way in the now + darkened colonnade of palms. There they went in silence, the earth gave up + richly of her perfume, the air tasted warm and aromatic in the nostrils; + and from a great way forward in the wood, the brightness of lights and + fire marked out the house of Attwater. + </p> + <p> + Herrick meanwhile resolved and resisted an immense temptation to go up, to + touch him on the arm and breathe a word in his ear: 'Beware, they are + going to murder you.' There would be one life saved; but what of the two + others? The three lives went up and down before him like buckets in a + well, or like the scales of balances. It had come to a choice, and one + that must be speedy. For certain invaluable minutes, the wheels of life + ran before him, and he could still divert them with a touch to the one + side or the other, still choose who was to live and who was to die. He + considered the men. Attwater intrigued, puzzled, dazzled, enchanted and + revolted him; alive, he seemed but a doubtful good; and the thought of him + lying dead was so unwelcome that it pursued him, like a vision, with every + circumstance of colour and sound. Incessantly, he had before him the image + of that great mass of man stricken down in varying attitudes and with + varying wounds; fallen prone, fallen supine, fallen on his side; or + clinging to a doorpost with the changing face and the relaxing fingers of + the death-agony. He heard the click of the trigger, the thud of the ball, + the cry of the victim; he saw the blood flow. And this building up of + circumstance was like a consecration of the man, till he seemed to walk in + sacrificial fillets. Next he considered Davis, with his thick-fingered, + coarse-grained, oat-bread commonness of nature, his indomitable valour and + mirth in the old days of their starvation, the endearing blend of his + faults and virtues, the sudden shining forth of a tenderness that lay too + deep for tears; his children, Adar and her bowel complaint, and Adar's + doll. No, death could not be suffered to approach that head even in fancy; + with a general heat and a bracing of his muscles, it was borne in on + Herrick that Adar's father would find in him a son to the death. And even + Huish showed a little in that sacredness; by the tacit adoption of daily + life they were become brothers; there was an implied bond of loyalty in + their cohabitation of the ship and their passed miseries, to which Herrick + must be a little true or wholly dishonoured. Horror of sudden death for + horror of sudden death, there was here no hesitation possible: it must be + Attwater. And no sooner was the thought formed (which was a sentence) than + his whole mind of man ran in a panic to the other side: and when he looked + within himself, he was aware only of turbulence and inarticulate outcry. + </p> + <p> + In all this there was no thought of Robert Herrick. He had complied with + the ebb-tide in man's affairs, and the tide had carried him away; he heard + already the roaring of the maelstrom that must hurry him under. And in his + bedevilled and dishonoured soul there was no thought of self. + </p> + <p> + For how long he walked silent by his companion Herrick had no guess. The + clouds rolled suddenly away; the orgasm was over; he found himself placid + with the placidity of despair; there returned to him the power of + commonplace speech; and he heard with surprise his own voice say: 'What a + lovely evening!' + </p> + <p> + 'Is it not?' said Attwater. 'Yes, the evenings here would be very pleasant + if one had anything to do. By day, of course, one can shoot.' + </p> + <p> + 'You shoot?' asked Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Yes, I am what you would call a fine shot,' said Attwater. 'It is faith; + I believe my balls will go true; if I were to miss once, it would spoil me + for nine months.' + </p> + <p> + 'You never miss, then?' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Not unless I mean to,' said Attwater. 'But to miss nicely is the art. + There was an old king one knew in the western islands, who used to empty a + Winchester all round a man, and stir his hair or nick a rag out of his + clothes with every ball except the last; and that went plump between the + eyes. It was pretty practice.' + </p> + <p> + 'You could do that?' asked Herrick, with a sudden chill. + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, I can do anything,' returned the other. 'You do not understand: what + must be, must.' + </p> + <p> + They were now come near to the back part of the house. One of the men was + engaged about the cooking fire, which burned with the clear, fierce, + essential radiance of cocoanut shells. A fragrance of strange meats was in + the air. All round in the verandahs lamps were lighted, so that the place + shone abroad in the dusk of the trees with many complicated patterns of + shadow. + </p> + <p> + 'Come and wash your hands,' said Attwater, and led the way into a clean, + matted room with a cot bed, a safe, or shelf or two of books in a glazed + case, and an iron washing-stand. Presently he cried in the native, and + there appeared for a moment in the doorway a plump and pretty young woman + with a clean towel. + </p> + <p> + 'Hullo!' cried Herrick, who now saw for the first time the fourth survivor + of the pestilence, and was startled by the recollection of the captain's + orders. + </p> + <p> + 'Yes,' said Attwater, 'the whole colony lives about the house, what's left + of it. We are all afraid of devils, if you please! and Taniera and she + sleep in the front parlour, and the other boy on the verandah.' + </p> + <p> + 'She is pretty,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Too pretty,' said Attwater. 'That was why I had her married. A man never + knows when he may be inclined to be a fool about women; so when we were + left alone, I had the pair of them to the chapel and performed the + ceremony. She made a lot of fuss. I do not take at all the romantic view + of marriage,' he explained. + </p> + <p> + 'And that strikes you as a safeguard?' asked Herrick with amazement. + </p> + <p> + 'Certainly. I am a plain man and very literal. WHOM GOD HATH JOINED + TOGETHER, are the words, I fancy. So one married them, and respects the + marriage,' said Attwater. + </p> + <p> + 'Ah!' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'You see, I may look to make an excellent marriage when I go home,' began + Attwater, confidentially. 'I am rich. This safe alone'—laying his + hand upon it—'will be a moderate fortune, when I have the time to + place the pearls upon the market. Here are ten years' accumulation from a + lagoon, where I have had as many as ten divers going all day long; and I + went further than people usually do in these waters, for I rotted a lot of + shell, and did splendidly. Would you like to see them?' + </p> + <p> + This confirmation of the captain's guess hit Herrick hard, and he + contained himself with difficulty. 'No, thank you, I think not,' said he. + 'I do not care for pearls. I am very indifferent to all these...' + </p> + <p> + 'Gewgaws?' suggested Attwater. 'And yet I believe you ought to cast an eye + on my collection, which is really unique, and which—oh! it is the + case with all of us and everything about us!—hangs by a hair. Today + it groweth up and flourisheth; tomorrow it is cut down and cast into the + oven. Today it is here and together in this safe; tomorrow—tonight!—it + may be scattered. Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of + thee.' + </p> + <p> + 'I do not understand you,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Not?' said Attwater. + </p> + <p> + 'You seem to speak in riddles,' said Herrick, unsteadily. 'I do not + understand what manner of man you are, nor what you are driving at.' + </p> + <p> + Attwater stood with his hands upon his hips, and his head bent forward. 'I + am a fatalist,' he replied, 'and just now (if you insist on it) an + experimentalist. Talking of which, by the bye, who painted out the + schooner's name?' he said, with mocking softness, 'because, do you know? + one thinks it should be done again. It can still be partly read; and + whatever is worth doing, is surely worth doing well. You think with me? + That is so nice! Well, shall we step on the verandah? I have a dry sherry + that I would like your opinion of.' + </p> + <p> + Herrick followed him forth to where, under the light of the hanging lamps, + the table shone with napery and crystal; followed him as the criminal goes + with the hangman, or the sheep with the butcher; took the sherry + mechanically, drank it, and spoke mechanical words of praise. The object + of his terror had become suddenly inverted; till then he had seen Attwater + trussed and gagged, a helpless victim, and had longed to run in and save + him; he saw him now tower up mysterious and menacing, the angel of the + Lord's wrath, armed with knowledge and threatening judgment. He set down + his glass again, and was surprised to see it empty. + </p> + <p> + 'You go always armed?' he said, and the next moment could have plucked his + tongue out. + </p> + <p> + 'Always,' said Attwater. 'I have been through a mutiny here; that was one + of my incidents of missionary life.' + </p> + <p> + And just then the sound of voices reached them, and looking forth from the + verandah they saw Huish and the captain drawing near. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter 9. THE DINNER PARTY + </h2> + <p> + They sat down to an island dinner, remarkable for its variety and + excellence; turtle soup and steak, fish, fowls, a sucking pig, a cocoanut + salad, and sprouting cocoanut roasted for dessert. Not a tin had been + opened; and save for the oil and vinegar in the salad, and some green + spears of onion which Attwater cultivated and plucked with his own hand, + not even the condiments were European. Sherry, hock, and claret succeeded + each other, and the Farallone champagne brought up the rear with the + dessert. + </p> + <p> + It was plain that, like so many of the extremely religious in the days + before teetotalism, Attwater had a dash of the epicure. For such + characters it is softening to eat well; doubly so to have designed and had + prepared an excellent meal for others; and the manners of their host were + agreeably mollified in consequence. + </p> + <p> + A cat of huge growth sat on his shoulders purring, and occasionally, with + a deft paw, capturing a morsel in the air. To a cat he might be likened + himself, as he lolled at the head of his table, dealing out attentions and + innuendoes, and using the velvet and the claw indifferently. And both + Huish and the captain fell progressively under the charm of his hospitable + freedom. + </p> + <p> + Over the third guest, the incidents of the dinner may be said to have + passed for long unheeded. Herrick accepted all that was offered him, ate + and drank without tasting, and heard without comprehension. His mind was + singly occupied in contemplating the horror of the circumstances in which + he sat. What Attwater knew, what the captain designed, from which side + treachery was to be first expected, these were the ground of his thoughts. + There were times when he longed to throw down the table and flee into the + night. And even that was debarred him; to do anything, to say anything, to + move at all, were only to precipitate the barbarous tragedy; and he sat + spellbound, eating with white lips. Two of his companions observed him + narrowly, Attwater with raking, sidelong glances that did not interrupt + his talk, the captain with a heavy and anxious consideration. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, I must say this sherry is a really prime article,' said Huish. ''Ow + much does it stand you in, if it's a fair question?' + </p> + <p> + 'A hundred and twelve shillings in London, and the freight to Valparaiso, + and on again,' said Attwater. 'It strikes one as really not a bad fluid.' + </p> + <p> + 'A 'undred and twelve!' murmured the clerk, relishing the wine and the + figures in a common ecstasy: 'O my!' + </p> + <p> + 'So glad you like it,' said Attwater. 'Help yourself, Mr Whish, and keep + the bottle by you.' + </p> + <p> + 'My friend's name is Huish and not Whish, sit,' said the captain with a + flush. + </p> + <p> + 'I beg your pardon, I am sure. Huish and not Whish, certainly,' said + Attwater. 'I was about to say that I have still eight dozen,' he added, + fixing the captain with his eye. + </p> + <p> + 'Eight dozen what?' said Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'Sherry,' was the reply. 'Eight dozen excellent sherry. Why, it seems + almost worth it in itself; to a man fond of wine.' + </p> + <p> + The ambiguous words struck home to guilty consciences, and Huish and the + captain sat up in their places and regarded him with a scare. + </p> + <p> + 'Worth what?' said Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'A hundred and twelve shillings,' replied Attwater. + </p> + <p> + The captain breathed hard for a moment. He reached out far and wide to + find any coherency in these remarks; then, with a great effort, changed + the subject. + </p> + <p> + 'I allow we are about the first white men upon this island, sir,' said he. + </p> + <p> + Attwater followed him at once, and with entire gravity, to the new ground. + 'Myself and Dr Symonds excepted, I should say the only ones,' he returned. + 'And yet who can tell? In the course of the ages someone may have lived + here, and we sometimes think that someone must. The cocoa palms grow all + round the island, which is scarce like nature's planting. We found + besides, when we landed, an unmistakable cairn upon the beach; use + unknown; but probably erected in the hope of gratifying some mumbo jumbo + whose very name is forgotten, by some thick-witted gentry whose very bones + are lost. Then the island (witness the Directory) has been twice reported; + and since my tenancy, we have had two wrecks, both derelict. The rest is + conjecture.' + </p> + <p> + 'Dr Symonds is your partner, I guess?' said Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'A dear fellow, Symonds! How he would regret it, if he knew you had been + here!' said Attwater. + </p> + <p> + ''E's on the Trinity 'All, ain't he?' asked Huish. + </p> + <p> + 'And if you could tell me where the Trinity 'All was, you would confer a + favour, Mr Whish!' was the reply. + </p> + <p> + 'I suppose she has a native crew?' said Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'Since the secret has been kept ten years, one would suppose she had,' + replied Attwater. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, now, see 'ere!' said Huish. 'You have everything about you in no + end style, and no mistake, but I tell you it wouldn't do for me. Too much + of “the old rustic bridge by the mill”; too retired, by 'alf. Give me the + sound of Bow Bells!' + </p> + <p> + 'You must not think it was always so,' replied Attwater, 'This was once a + busy shore, although now, hark! you can hear the solitude. I find it + stimulating. And talking of the sound of bells, kindly follow a little + experiment of mine in silence.' There was a silver bell at his right hand + to call the servants; he made them a sign to stand still, struck the bell + with force, and leaned eagerly forward. The note rose clear and strong; it + rang out clear and far into the night and over the deserted island; it + died into the distance until there only lingered in the porches of the ear + a vibration that was sound no longer. 'Empty houses, empty sea, solitary + beaches!' said Attwater. 'And yet God hears the bell! And yet we sit in + this verandah on a lighted stage with all heaven for spectators! And you + call that solitude?' + </p> + <p> + There followed a bar of silence, during which the captain sat mesmerised. + </p> + <p> + Then Attwater laughed softly. 'These are the diversions of a lonely, man,' + he resumed, 'and possibly not in good taste. One tells oneself these + little fairy tales for company. If there SHOULD happen to be anything in + folk-lore, Mr Hay? But here comes the claret. One does not offer you + Lafitte, captain, because I believe it is all sold to the railroad dining + cars in your great country; but this Brine-Mouton is of a good year, and + Mr Whish will give me news of it.' + </p> + <p> + 'That's a queer idea of yours!' cried the captain, bursting with a sigh + from the spell that had bound him. 'So you mean to tell me now, that you + sit here evenings and ring up... well, ring on the angels... by yourself?' + </p> + <p> + 'As a matter of historic fact, and since you put it directly, one does + not,' said Attwater. 'Why ring a bell, when there flows out from oneself + and everything about one a far more momentous silence? the least beat of + my heart and the least thought in my mind echoing into eternity for ever + and for ever and for ever.' + </p> + <p> + 'O look 'ere,' said Huish, 'turn down the lights at once, and the Band of + 'Ope will oblige! This ain't a spiritual seance.' + </p> + <p> + 'No folk-lore about Mr Whish—I beg your pardon, captain: Huish not + Whish, of course,' said Attwater. + </p> + <p> + As the boy was filling Huish's glass, the bottle escaped from his hand and + was shattered, and the wine spilt on the verandah floor. Instant grimness + as of death appeared on the face of Attwater; he smote the bell + imperiously, and the two brown natives fell into the attitude of attention + and stood mute and trembling. There was just a moment of silence and hard + looks; then followed a few savage words in the native; and, upon a gesture + of dismissal, the service proceeded as before. + </p> + <p> + None of the party had as yet observed upon the excellent bearing of the + two men. They were dark, undersized, and well set up; stepped softly, + waited deftly, brought on the wines and dishes at a look, and their eyes + attended studiously on their master. + </p> + <p> + 'Where do you get your labour from anyway?' asked Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'Ah, where not?' answered Attwater. + </p> + <p> + 'Not much of a soft job, I suppose?' said the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'If you will tell me where getting labour is!' said Attwater with a shrug. + 'And of course, in our case, as we could name no destination, we had to go + far and wide and do the best we could. We have gone as far west as the + Kingsmills and as far south as Rapa-iti. Pity Symonds isn't here! He is + full of yarns. That was his part, to collect them. Then began mine, which + was the educational.' + </p> + <p> + 'You mean to run them?' said Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'Ay! to run them,' said Attwater. + </p> + <p> + 'Wait a bit,' said Davis, 'I'm out of my depth. How was this? Do you mean + to say you did it single-handed?' + </p> + <p> + 'One did it single-handed,' said Attwater, 'because there was nobody to + help one.' + </p> + <p> + 'By God, but you must be a holy terror!' cried the captain, in a glow of + admiration. + </p> + <p> + 'One does one's best,' said Attwater. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, now!' said Davis, 'I have seen a lot of driving in my time and been + counted a good driver myself; I fought my way, third mate, round the Cape + Horn with a push of packet rats that would have turned the devil out of + hell and shut the door on him; and I tell you, this racket of Mr + Attwater's takes the cake. In a ship, why, there ain't nothing to it! + You've got the law with you, that's what does it. But put me down on this + blame' beach alone, with nothing but a whip and a mouthful of bad words, + and ask me to... no, SIR! it's not good enough! I haven't got the sand for + that!' cried Davis. 'It's the law behind,' he added; 'it's the law does + it, every time!' + </p> + <p> + 'The beak ain't as black as he's sometimes pynted,' observed Huish, + humorously. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, one got the law after a fashion,' said Attwater. 'One had to be a + number of things. It was sometimes rather a bore.' + </p> + <p> + 'I should smile!' said Davis. 'Rather lively, I should think!' + </p> + <p> + 'I dare say we mean the same thing,' said Attwater. 'However, one way or + another, one got it knocked into their heads that they MUST work, and they + DID... until the Lord took them!' + </p> + <p> + ''Ope you made 'em jump,' said Huish. + </p> + <p> + 'When it was necessary, Mr Whish, I made them jump,' said Attwater. + </p> + <p> + 'You bet you did,' cried the captain. He was a good deal flushed, but not + so much with wine as admiration; and his eyes drank in the huge + proportions of the other with delight. 'You bet you did, and you bet that + I can see you doing it! By God, you're a man, and you can say I said so.' + </p> + <p> + 'Too good of you, I'm sure,' said Attwater. + </p> + <p> + 'Did you—did you ever have crime here?' asked Herrick, breaking his + silence with a pungent voice. + </p> + <p> + 'Yes,' said Attwater, 'we did.' + </p> + <p> + 'And how did you handle that, sir?' cried the eager captain. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, you see, it was a queer case,' replied Attwater, 'it was a case + that would have puzzled Solomon. Shall I tell it you? yes?' + </p> + <p> + The captain rapturously accepted. + </p> + <p> + 'Well,' drawled Attwater, 'here is what it was. I dare say you know two + types of natives, which may be called the obsequious and the sullen? Well, + one had them, the types themselves, detected in the fact; and one had them + together. Obsequiousness ran out of the first like wine out of a bottle, + sullenness congested in the second. Obsequiousness was all smiles; he ran + to catch your eye, he loved to gabble; and he had about a dozen words of + beach English, and an eighth-of-an-inch veneer of Christianity. Sullens + was industrious; a big down-looking bee. When he was spoken to, he + answered with a black look and a shrug of one shoulder, but the thing + would be done. I don't give him to you for a model of manners; there was + nothing showy about Sullens; but he was strong and steady, and + ungraciously obedient. Now Sullens got into trouble; no matter how; the + regulations of the place were broken, and he was punished accordingly—without + effect. So, the next day, and the next, and the day after, till I began to + be weary of the business, and Sullens (I am afraid) particularly so. There + came a day when he was in fault again, for the—oh, perhaps the + thirtieth time; and he rolled a dull eye upon me, with a spark in it, and + appeared to speak. Now the regulations of the place are formal upon one + point: we allow no explanations; none are received, none allowed to be + offered. So one stopped him instantly; but made a note of the + circumstance. The next day, he was gone from the settlement. There could + be nothing more annoying; if the labour took to running away, the fishery + was wrecked. There are sixty miles of this island, you see, all in length + like the Queen's Highway; the idea of pursuit in such a place was a piece + of single-minded childishness, which one did not entertain. Two days + later, I made a discovery; it came in upon me with a flash that Sullens + had been unjustly punished from beginning to end, and the real culprit + throughout had been Obsequiousness. The native who talks, like the woman + who hesitates, is lost. You set him talking and lying; and he talks, and + lies, and watches your face to see if he has pleased you; till at last, + out comes the truth! It came out of Obsequiousness in the regular course. + I said nothing to him; I dismissed him; and late as it was, for it was + already night, set off to look for Sullens. I had not far to go: about two + hundred yards up the island, the moon showed him to me. He was hanging in + a cocoa palm—I'm not botanist enough to tell you how—but it's + the way, in nine cases out of ten, these natives commit suicide. His + tongue was out, poor devil, and the birds had got at him; I spare you + details, he was an ugly sight! I gave the business six good hours of + thinking in this verandah. My justice had been made a fool of; I don't + suppose that I was ever angrier. Next day, I had the conch sounded and all + hands out before sunrise. One took one's gun, and led the way, with + Obsequiousness. He was very talkative; the beggar supposed that all was + right now he had confessed; in the old schoolboy phrase, he was plainly + 'sucking up' to me; full of protestations of goodwill and good behaviour; + to which one answered one really can't remember what. Presently the tree + came in sight, and the hanged man. They all burst out lamenting for their + comrade in the island way, and Obsequiousness was the loudest of the + mourners. He was quite genuine; a noxious creature, without any + consciousness of guilt. Well, presently—to make a long story short—one + told him to go up the tree. He stared a bit, looked at one with a trouble + in his eye, and had rather a sickly smile; but went. He was obedient to + the last; he had all the pretty virtues, but the truth was not in him. So + soon as he was up, he looked down, and there was the rifle covering him; + and at that he gave a whimper like a dog. You could bear a pin drop; no + more keening now. There they all crouched upon the ground, with bulging + eyes; there was he in the tree top, the colour of the lead; and between + was the dead man, dancing a bit in the air. He was obedient to the last, + recited his crime, recommended his soul to God. And then...' + </p> + <p> + Attwater paused, and Herrick, who had been listening attentively, made a + convulsive movement which upset his glass. + </p> + <p> + 'And then?' said the breathless captain. + </p> + <p> + 'Shot,' said Attwater. 'They came to ground together.' + </p> + <p> + Herrick sprang to his feet with a shriek and an insensate gesture. + </p> + <p> + 'It was a murder,' he screamed. 'A cold-hearted, bloody-minded murder! You + monstrous being! Murderer and hypocrite—murderer and hypocrite—murderer + and hypocrite—' he repeated, and his tongue stumbled among the + words. + </p> + <p> + The captain was by him in a moment. 'Herrick!' he cried, 'behave yourself! + Here, don't be a blame' fool!' + </p> + <p> + Herrick struggled in his embrace like a frantic child, and suddenly bowing + his face in his hands, choked into a sob, the first of many, which now + convulsed his body silently, and now jerked from him indescribable and + meaningless sounds. + </p> + <p> + 'Your friend appears over-excited,' remarked Attwater, sitting unmoved but + all alert at table. + </p> + <p> + 'It must be the wine,' replied the captain. 'He ain't no drinking man, you + see. I—I think I'll take him away. A walk'll sober him up, I guess.' + </p> + <p> + He led him without resistance out of the verandah and into the night, in + which they soon melted; but still for some time, as they drew away, his + comfortable voice was to be heard soothing and remonstrating, and Herrick + answering, at intervals, with the mechanical noises of hysteria. + </p> + <p> + ''E's like a bloomin' poultry yard!' observed Huish, helping himself to + wine (of which he spilled a good deal) with gentlemanly ease. 'A man + should learn to beyave at table,' he added. + </p> + <p> + 'Rather bad form, is it not?' said Attwater. 'Well, well, we are left + tete-a-tete. A glass of wine with you, Mr Whish!' + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter 10. THE OPEN DOOR + </h2> + <p> + The captain and Herrick meanwhile turned their back upon the lights in + Attwater's verandah, and took a direction towards the pier and the beach + of the lagoon. + </p> + <p> + The isle, at this hour, with its smooth floor of sand, the pillared roof + overhead, and the prevalent illumination of the lamps, wore an air of + unreality like a deserted theatre or a public garden at midnight. A man + looked about him for the statues and tables. Not the least air of wind was + stirring among the palms, and the silence was emphasised by the continuous + clamour of the surf from the seashore, as it might be of traffic in the + next street. + </p> + <p> + Still talking, still soothing him, the captain hurried his patient on, + brought him at last to the lagoon-side, and leading him down the beach, + laved his head and face with the tepid water. The paroxysm gradually + subsided, the sobs became less convulsive and then ceased; by an odd but + not quite unnatural conjunction, the captain's soothing current of talk + died away at the same time and by proportional steps, and the pair + remained sunk in silence. The lagoon broke at their feet in petty + wavelets, and with a sound as delicate as a whisper; stars of all degrees + looked down on their own images in that vast mirror; and the more angry + colour of the Farallone's riding lamp burned in the middle distance. For + long they continued to gaze on the scene before them, and hearken + anxiously to the rustle and tinkle of that miniature surf, or the more + distant and loud reverberations from the outer coast. For long speech was + denied them; and when the words came at last, they came to both + simultaneously. 'Say, Herrick...'the captain was beginning. + </p> + <p> + But Herrick, turning swiftly towards his companion, bent him down with the + eager cry: 'Let's up anchor, captain, and to sea!' + </p> + <p> + 'Where to, my son?' said the captain. 'Up anchor's easy saying. But where + to?' + </p> + <p> + 'To sea,' responded Herrick. 'The sea's big enough! To sea—away from + this dreadful island and that, oh! that sinister man!' + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, we'll see about that,' said Davis. 'You brace up, and we'll see about + that. You're all run down, that's what's wrong with you; you're all + nerves, like Jemimar; you've got to brace up good and be yourself again, + and then we'll talk.' + </p> + <p> + 'To sea,' reiterated Herrick, 'to sea tonight—now—this + moment!' + </p> + <p> + 'It can't be, my son,' replied the captain firmly. 'No ship of mine puts + to sea without provisions, you can take that for settled.' + </p> + <p> + 'You don't seem to understand,' said Herrick. 'The whole thing is over, I + tell you. There is nothing to do here, when he knows all. That man there + with the cat knows all; can't you take it in?' + </p> + <p> + 'All what?' asked the captain, visibly discomposed. 'Why, he received us + like a perfect gentleman and treated us real handsome, until you began + with your foolery—and I must say I seen men shot for less, and + nobody sorry! What more do you expect anyway?' + </p> + <p> + Herrick rocked to and fro upon the sand, shaking his head. + </p> + <p> + 'Guying us,' he said, 'he was guying us—only guying us; it's all + we're good for.' + </p> + <p> + 'There was one queer thing, to be sure,' admitted the captain, with a + misgiving of the voice; 'that about the sherry. Damned if I caught on to + that. Say, Herrick, you didn't give me away?' + </p> + <p> + 'Oh! give you away!' repeated Herrick with weary, querulous scorn. 'What + was there to give away? We're transparent; we've got rascal branded on us: + detected rascal—detected rascal! Why, before he came on board, there + was the name painted out, and he saw the whole thing. He made sure we + would kill him there and then, and stood guying you and Huish on the + chance. He calls that being frightened! Next he had me ashore; a fine time + I had! THE TWO WOLVES, he calls you and Huish.—WHAT IS THE PUPPY + DOING WITH THE TWO WOLVES? he asked. He showed me his pearls; he said they + might be dispersed before morning, and ALL HUNG BY A HAIr—and smiled + as he said it, such a smile! O, it's no use, I tell you! He knows all, he + sees through all; we only make him laugh with our pretences—he looks + at us and laughs like God!' + </p> + <p> + There was a silence. Davis stood with contorted brows, gazing into the + night. + </p> + <p> + 'The pearls?' he said suddenly. 'He showed them to you? he has them?' + </p> + <p> + 'No, he didn't show them; I forgot: only the safe they were in,' said + Herrick. 'But you'll never get them!' + </p> + <p> + 'I've two words to say to that,' said the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'Do you think he would have been so easy at table, unless he was + prepared?' cried Herrick. 'The servants were both armed. He was armed + himself; he always is; he told me. You will never deceive his vigilance. + Davis, I know it! It's all up; all up. There's nothing for it, there's + nothing to be done: all gone: life, honour, love. Oh, my God, my God, why + was I born?' + </p> + <p> + Another pause followed upon this outburst. + </p> + <p> + The captain put his hands to his brow. + </p> + <p> + 'Another thing!' he broke out. 'Why did he tell you all this? Seems like + madness to me!' + </p> + <p> + Herrick shook his head with gloomy iteration. 'You wouldn't understand if + I were to tell you,' said he. + </p> + <p> + 'I guess I can understand any blame' thing that you can tell me,' said the + captain. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, then, he's a fatalist,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'What's that, a fatalist?' said Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, it's a fellow that believes a lot of things,' said Herrick, 'believes + that his bullets go true; believes that all falls out as God chooses, do + as you like to prevent it; and all that.' + </p> + <p> + 'Why, I guess I believe right so myself,' said Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'You do?' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'You bet I do!' says Davis. + </p> + <p> + Herrick shrugged his shoulders. 'Well, you must be a fool,' said he, and + he leaned his head upon his knees. + </p> + <p> + The captain stood biting his hands. + </p> + <p> + 'There's one thing sure,' he said at last. 'I must get Huish out of that. + HE'S not fit to hold his end up with a man like you describe.' + </p> + <p> + And he turned to go away. The words had been quite simple; not so the + tone; and the other was quick to catch it. + </p> + <p> + 'Davis!' he cried, 'no! Don't do it. Spare ME, and don't do it—spare + yourself, and leave it alone—for God's sake, for your children's + sake!' + </p> + <p> + His voice rose to a passionate shrillness; another moment, and he might be + overheard by their not distant victim. But Davis turned on him with a + savage oath and gesture; and the miserable young man rolled over on his + face on the sand, and lay speechless and helpless. + </p> + <p> + The captain meanwhile set out rapidly for Attwater's house. As he went, he + considered with himself eagerly, his thoughts racing. The man had + understood, he had mocked them from the beginning; he would teach him to + make a mockery of John Davis! Herrick thought him a god; give him a second + to aim in, and the god was overthrown. He chuckled as he felt the butt of + his revolver. It should be done now, as he went in. From behind? It was + difficult to get there. From across the table? No, the captain preferred + to shoot standing, so as you could be sure to get your hand upon your gun. + The best would be to summon Huish, and when Attwater stood up and turned—ah, + then would be the moment. Wrapped in his ardent prefiguration of events, + the captain posted towards the house with his head down. + </p> + <p> + 'Hands up! Halt!' cried the voice of Attwater. + </p> + <p> + And the captain, before he knew what he was doing, had obeyed. The + surprise was complete and irremediable. Coming on the top crest of his + murderous intentions, he had walked straight into an ambuscade, and now + stood, with his hands impotently lifted, staring at the verandah. + </p> + <p> + The party was now broken up. Attwater leaned on a post, and kept Davis + covered with a Winchester. One of the servants was hard by with a second + at the port arms, leaning a little forward, round-eyed with eager + expectancy. In the open space at the head of the stair, Huish was partly + supported by the other native; his face wreathed in meaningless smiles, + his mind seemingly sunk in the contemplation of an unlighted cigar. + </p> + <p> + 'Well,' said Attwater, 'you seem to me to be a very twopenny pirate!' + </p> + <p> + The captain uttered a sound in his throat for which we have no name; rage + choked him. + </p> + <p> + 'I am going to give you Mr Whish—or the wine-sop that remains of + him,' continued Attwater. 'He talks a great deal when he drinks, Captain + Davis of the Sea Ranger. But I have quite done with him—and return + the article with thanks. Now,' he cried sharply. 'Another false movement + like that, and your family will have to deplore the loss of an invaluable + parent; keep strictly still, Davis.' + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +Attwater said a word in the native, his eye still undeviatingly fixed on +the captain; and the servant thrust Huish smartly forward from the +brink of the stair. With an extraordinary simultaneous dispersion of +his members, that gentleman bounded forth into space, struck the earth, +ricocheted, and brought up with his arms about a palm. His mind was +quite a stranger to these events; the expression of anguish that +deformed his countenance at the moment of the leap was probably +mechanical; and he suffered these convulsions in silence; clung to the +tree like an infant; and seemed, by his dips, to suppose himself engaged +in the pastime of bobbing for apples. A more finely sympathetic mind or +a more observant eye might have remarked, a little in front of him on +the sand, and still quite beyond reach, the unlighted cigar. + + 'There is your Whitechapel carrion!' said Attwater. 'And now +you might very well ask me why I do not put a period to you at once, as +you deserve. I will tell you why, Davis. It is because I have nothing to +do with the Sea Ranger and the people you drowned, or the Farallone and +the champagne that you stole. That is your account with God, He keeps +it, and He will settle it when the clock strikes. In my own case, I have +nothing to go on but suspicion, and I do not kill on suspicion, not even +vermin like you. But understand! if ever I see any of you again, it is +another matter, and you shall eat a bullet. And now take yourself off. +March! and as you value what you call your life, keep your hands up as +you go!' +</pre> + <p> + The captain remained as he was, his hands up, his mouth open: mesmerised + with fury. + </p> + <p> + 'March!' said Attwater. 'One—two—three!' + </p> + <p> + And Davis turned and passed slowly away. But even as he went, he was + meditating a prompt, offensive return. In the twinkling of an eye, he had + leaped behind a tree; and was crouching there, pistol in hand, peering + from either side of his place of ambush with bared teeth; a serpent + already poised to strike. And already he was too late. Attwater and his + servants had disappeared; and only the lamps shone on the deserted table + and the bright sand about the house, and threw into the night in all + directions the strong and tall shadows of the palms. + </p> + <p> + Davis ground his teeth. Where were they gone, the cowards? to what hole + had they retreated beyond reach? It was in vain he should try anything, + he, single and with a second-hand revolver, against three persons, armed + with Winchesters, and who did not show an ear out of any of the apertures + of that lighted and silent house? Some of them might have already ducked + below it from the rear, and be drawing a bead upon him at that moment from + the low-browed crypt, the receptacle of empty bottles and broken crockery. + No, there was nothing to be done but to bring away (if it were still + possible) his shattered and demoralised forces. + </p> + <p> + 'Huish,' he said, 'come along.' + </p> + <p> + ''S lose my ciga',' said Huish, reaching vaguely forward. + </p> + <p> + The captain let out a rasping oath. 'Come right along here,' said he. + </p> + <p> + ''S all righ'. Sleep here 'th Atty-Attwa. Go boar' t'morr',' replied the + festive one. + </p> + <p> + 'If you don't come, and come now, by the living God, I'll shoot you!' + cried the captain. + </p> + <p> + It is not to be supposed that the sense of these words in any way + penetrated to the mind of Hulsh; rather that, in a fresh attempt upon the + cigar, he overbalanced himself and came flying erratically forward: a + course which brought him within reach of Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'Now you walk straight,' said the captain, clutching him, 'or I'll know + why not!' + </p> + <p> + ''S lose my ciga',' replied Huish. + </p> + <p> + The captain's contained fury blazed up for a moment. He twisted Huish + round, grasped him by the neck of the coat, ran him in front of him to the + pier end, and flung him savagely forward on his face. + </p> + <p> + 'Look for your cigar then, you swine!' said he, and blew his boat call + till the pea in it ceased to rattle. + </p> + <p> + An immediate activity responded on board the Farallone; far away voices, + and soon the sound of oars, floated along the surface of the lagoon; and + at the same time, from nearer hand, Herrick aroused himself and strolled + languidly up. He bent over the insignificant figure of Huish, where it + grovelled, apparently insensible, at the base of the figure-head. + </p> + <p> + 'Dead?' he asked. + </p> + <p> + 'No, he's not dead,' said Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'And Attwater?' asked Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Now you just shut your head!' replied Davis. 'You can do that, I fancy, + and by God, I'll show you how! I'll stand no more of your drivel.' + </p> + <p> + They waited accordingly in silence till the boat bumped on the furthest + piers; then raised Huish, head and heels, carried him down the gangway, + and flung him summarily in the bottom. On the way out he was heard + murmuring of the loss of his cigar; and after he had been handed up the + side like baggage, and cast down in the alleyway to slumber, his last + audible expression was: 'Splen'l fl' Attwa'!' This the expert construed + into 'Splendid fellow, Attwater'; with so much innocence had this great + spirit issued from the adventures of the evening. + </p> + <p> + The captain went and walked in the waist with brief, irate turns; Herrick + leaned his arms on the taffrail; the crew had all turned in. The ship had + a gentle, cradling motion; at times a block piped like a bird. On shore, + through the colonnade of palm stems, Attwater's house was to be seen + shining steadily with many lamps. And there was nothing else visible, + whether in the heaven above or in the lagoon below, but the stars and + their reflections. It might have been minutes or it might have been hours, + that Herrick leaned there, looking in the glorified water and drinking + peace. 'A bath of stars,' he was thinking; when a hand was laid at last on + his shoulder. + </p> + <p> + 'Herrick,' said the captain, 'I've been walking off my trouble.' + </p> + <p> + A sharp jar passed through the young man, but he neither answered nor so + much as turned his head. + </p> + <p> + 'I guess I spoke a little rough to you on shore,' pursued the captain; + 'the fact is, I was real mad; but now it's over, and you and me have to + turn to and think.' + </p> + <p> + 'I will NOT think,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Here, old man!' said Davis, kindly; 'this won't fight, you know! You've + got to brace up and help me get things straight. You're not going back on + a friend? That's not like you, Herrick!' + </p> + <p> + 'O yes, it is,' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Come, come!' said the captain, and paused as if quite at a loss. 'Look + here,' he cried, 'you have a glass of champagne. I won't touch it, so + that'll show you if I'm in earnest. But it's just the pick-me-up for you; + it'll put an edge on you at once.' + </p> + <p> + 'O, you leave me alone!' said Herrick, and turned away. + </p> + <p> + The captain caught him by the sleeve; and he shook him off and turned on + him, for the moment, like a demoniac. + </p> + <p> + 'Go to hell in your own way!' he cried. + </p> + <p> + And he turned away again, this time unchecked, and stepped forward to + where the boat rocked alongside and ground occasionally against the + schooner. He looked about him. A corner of the house was interposed + between the captain and himself; all was well; no eye must see him in that + last act. He slid silently into the boat; thence, silently, into the + starry water. + </p> + <p> + Instinctively he swam a little; it would be time enough to stop by and by. + </p> + <p> + The shock of the immersion brightened his mind immediately. The events of + the ignoble day passed before him in a frieze of pictures, and he thanked + 'whatever Gods there be' for that open door of suicide. In such a little + while he would be done with it, the random business at an end, the + prodigal son come home. A very bright planet shone before him and drew a + trenchant wake along the water. He took that for his line and followed it. + That was the last earthly thing that he should look upon; that radiant + speck, which he had soon magnified into a City of Laputa, along whose + terraces there walked men and women of awful and benignant features, who + viewed him with distant commiseration. These imaginary spectators consoled + him; he told himself their talk, one to another; it was of himself and his + sad destiny. + </p> + <p> + From such flights of fancy, he was aroused by the growing coldness of the + water. Why should he delay? Here, where he was now, let him drop the + curtain, let him seek the ineffable refuge, let him lie down with all + races and generations of men in the house of sleep. It was easy to say, + easy to do. To stop swimming: there was no mystery in that, if he could do + it. Could he? And he could not. He knew it instantly. He was aware + instantly of an opposition in his members, unanimous and invincible, + clinging to life with a single and fixed resolve, finger by finger, sinew + by sinew; something that was at once he and not he—at once within + and without him;—the shutting of some miniature valve in his brain, + which a single manly thought should suffice to open—and the grasp of + an external fate ineluctable as gravity. To any man there may come at + times a consciousness that there blows, through all the articulations of + his body, the wind of a spirit not wholly his; that his mind rebels; that + another girds him and carries him whither he would not. It came now to + Herrick, with the authority of a revelation. There was no escape possible. + The open door was closed in his recreant face. He must go back into the + world and amongst men without illusion. He must stagger on to the end with + the pack of his responsibility and his disgrace, until a cold, a blow, a + merciful chance ball, or the more merciful hangman, should dismiss him + from his infamy. There were men who could commit suicide; there were men + who could not; and he was one who could not. + </p> + <p> + For perhaps a minute, there raged in his mind the coil of this discovery; + then cheerless certitude followed; and, with an incredible simplicity of + submission to ascertained fact, he turned round and struck out for shore. + There was a courage in this which he could not appreciate; the ignobility + of his cowardice wholly occupying him. A strong current set against him + like a wind in his face; he contended with it heavily, wearily, without + enthusiasm, but with substantial advantage; marking his progress the + while, without pleasure, by the outline of the trees. Once he had a moment + of hope. He heard to the southward of him, towards the centre of the + lagoon, the wallowing of some great fish, doubtless a shark, and paused + for a little, treading water. Might not this be the hangman? he thought. + But the wallowing died away; mere silence succeeded; and Herrick pushed on + again for the shore, raging as he went at his own nature. Ay, he would + wait for the shark; but if he had heard him coming!... His smile was + tragic. He could have spat upon himself. + </p> + <p> + About three in the morning, chance, and the set of the current, and the + bias of his own right-handed body, so decided it between them that he came + to shore upon the beach in front of Attwater's. There he sat down, and + looked forth into a world without any of the lights of hope. The poor + diving dress of self-conceit was sadly tattered! With the fairy tale of + suicide, of a refuge always open to him, he had hitherto beguiled and + supported himself in the trials of life; and behold! that also was only a + fairy tale, that also was folk-lore. With the consequences of his acts he + saw himself implacably confronted for the duration of life: stretched upon + a cross, and nailed there with the iron bolts of his own cowardice. He had + no tears; he told himself no stories. His disgust with himself was so + complete that even the process of apologetic mythology had ceased. He was + like a man cast down from a pillar, and every bone broken. He lay there, + and admitted the facts, and did not attempt to rise. + </p> + <p> + Dawn began to break over the far side of the atoll, the sky brightened, + the clouds became dyed with gorgeous colours, the shadows of the night + lifted. And, suddenly, Herrick was aware that the lagoon and the trees + wore again their daylight livery; and he saw, on board the Farallone, + Davis extinguishing the lantern, and smoke rising from the galley. + </p> + <p> + Davis, without doubt, remarked and recognised the figure on the beach; or + perhaps hesitated to recognise it; for after he had gazed a long while + from under his hand, he went into the house and fetched a glass. It was + very powerful; Herrick had often used it. With an instinct of shame, he + hid his face in his hands. + </p> + <p> + 'And what brings you here, Mr Herrick-Hay, or Mr Hay-Herrick?' asked the + voice of Attwater. 'Your back view from my present position is remarkably + fine, and I would continue to present it. We can get on very nicely as we + are, and if you were to turn round, do you know? I think it would be + awkward.' + </p> + <p> + Herrick slowly rose to his feet; his heart throbbed hard, a hideous + excitement shook him, but he was master of himself. Slowly he turned, and + faced Attwater and the muzzle of a pointed rifle. 'Why could I not do that + last night?' he thought. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, why don't you fire?' he said aloud, with a voice that trembled. + </p> + <p> + Attwater slowly put his gun under his arm, then his hands in his pockets. + </p> + <p> + 'What brings you here?' he repeated. + </p> + <p> + 'I don't know,' said Herrick; and then, with a cry: 'Can you do anything + with me?' + </p> + <p> + 'Are you armed?' said Attwater. 'I ask for the form's sake.' + </p> + <p> + 'Armed? No!' said Herrick. 'O yes, I am, too!' And he flung upon the beach + a dripping pistol. + </p> + <p> + 'You are wet,' said Attwater. + </p> + <p> + 'Yes, I am wet,' said Herrick. 'Can you do anything with me?' + </p> + <p> + Attwater read his face attentively. + </p> + <p> + 'It would depend a good deal upon what you are,' said he. + </p> + <p> + 'What I am? A coward!' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'There is very little to be done with that,' said Attwater. 'And yet the + description hardly strikes one as exhaustive.' + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, what does it matter?' cried Herrick. 'Here I am. I am broken + crockery; I am a burst drum; the whole of my life is gone to water; I have + nothing left that I believe in, except my living horror of myself. Why do + I come to you? I don't know; you are cold, cruel, hateful; and I hate you, + or I think I hate you. But you are an honest man, an honest gentleman. I + put myself, helpless, in your hands. What must I do? If I can't do + anything, be merciful and put a bullet through me; it's only a puppy with + a broken leg!' + </p> + <p> + 'If I were you, I would pick up that pistol, come up to the house, and put + on some dry clothes,' said Attwater. + </p> + <p> + 'If you really mean it?' said Herrick. 'You know they—we—they. + .. But you know all.' + </p> + <p> + 'I know quite enough,' said Attwater. 'Come up to the house.' + </p> + <p> + And the captain, from the deck of the Farallone, saw the two men pass + together under the shadow of the grove. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter 11. DAVID AND GOLIATH + </h2> + <p> + Huish had bundled himself up from the glare of the day—his face to + the house, his knees retracted. The frail bones in the thin tropical + raiment seemed scarce more considerable than a fowl's; and Davis, sitting + on the rail with his arm about a stay, contemplated him with gloom, + wondering what manner of counsel that insignificant figure should contain. + For since Herrick had thrown him off and deserted to the enemy, Huish, + alone of mankind, remained to him to be a helper and oracle. + </p> + <p> + He considered their position with a sinking heart. The ship was a stolen + ship; the stores, either from initial carelessness or ill administration + during the voyage, were insufficient to carry them to any port except back + to Papeete; and there retribution waited in the shape of a gendarme, a + judge with a queer-shaped hat, and the horror of distant Noumea. Upon that + side, there was no glimmer of hope. Here, at the island, the dragon was + roused; Attwater with his men and his Winchesters watched and patrolled + the house; let him who dare approach it. What else was then left but to + sit there, inactive, pacing the decks—until the Trinity Hall arrived + and they were cast into irons, or until the food came to an end, and the + pangs of famine succeeded? For the Trinity Hall Davis was prepared; he + would barricade the house, and die there defending it, like a rat in a + crevice. But for the other? The cruise of the Farallone, into which he had + plunged only a fortnight before, with such golden expectations, could this + be the nightmare end of it? The ship rotting at anchor, the crew stumbling + and dying in the scuppers? It seemed as if any extreme of hazard were to + be preferred to so grisly a certainty; as if it would be better to + up-anchor after all, put to sea at a venture, and, perhaps, perish at the + hands of cannibals on one of the more obscure Paumotus. His eye roved + swiftly over sea and sky in quest of any promise of wind, but the + fountains of the Trade were empty. Where it had run yesterday and for + weeks before, a roaring blue river charioting clouds, silence now reigned; + and the whole height of the atmosphere stood balanced. On the endless + ribbon of island that stretched out to either hand of him its array of + golden and green and silvery palms, not the most volatile frond was to be + seen stirring; they drooped to their stable images in the lagoon like + things carved of metal, and already their long line began to reverberate + heat. There was no escape possible that day, none probable on the morrow. + And still the stores were running out! + </p> + <p> + Then came over Davis, from deep down in the roots of his being, or at + least from far back among his memories of childhood and innocence, a wave + of superstition. This run of ill luck was something beyond natural; the + chances of the game were in themselves more various; it seemed as if the + devil must serve the pieces. The devil? He heard again the clear note of + Attwater's bell ringing abroad into the night, and dying away. How if + God...? + </p> + <p> + Briskly, he averted his mind. Attwater: that was the point. Attwater had + food and a treasure of pearls; escape made possible in the present, riches + in the future. They must come to grips, with Attwater; the man must die. A + smoky heat went over his face, as he recalled the impotent figure he had + made last night and the contemptuous speeches he must bear in silence. + Rage, shame, and the love of life, all pointed the one way; and only + invention halted: how to reach him? had he strength enough? was there any + help in that misbegotten packet of bones against the house? + </p> + <p> + His eyes dwelled upon him with a strange avidity, as though he would read + into his soul; and presently the sleeper moved, stirred uneasily, turned + suddenly round, and threw him a blinking look. Davis maintained the same + dark stare, and Huish looked away again and sat up. + </p> + <p> + 'Lord, I've an 'eadache on me!' said he. 'I believe I was a bit swipey + last night. W'ere's that cry-byby 'Errick?' + </p> + <p> + 'Gone,' said the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'Ashore?' cried Huish. 'Oh, I say! I'd 'a gone too.' + </p> + <p> + 'Would you?' said the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'Yes, I would,' replied Huish. 'I like Attwater. 'E's all right; we got on + like one o'clock when you were gone. And ain't his sherry in it, rather? + It's like Spiers and Ponds' Amontillado! I wish I 'ad a drain of it now.' + He sighed. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, you'll never get no more of it—that's one thing,' said Davis, + gravely. + </p> + <p> + ''Ere! wot's wrong with you, Dyvis? Coppers 'ot? Well, look at me! I ain't + grumpy,' said Huish; 'I'm as plyful as a canary-bird, I am.' + </p> + <p> + 'Yes,' said Davis, 'you're playful; I own that; and you were playful last + night, I believe, and a damned fine performance you made of it.' + </p> + <p> + ''Allo!' said Huish. ''Ow's this? Wot performance?' + </p> + <p> + 'Well, I'll tell you,' said the captain, getting slowly off the rail. + </p> + <p> + And he did: at full length, with every wounding epithet and absurd detail + repeated and emphasised; he had his own vanity and Huish's upon the grill, + and roasted them; and as he spoke, he inflicted and endured agonies of + humiliation. It was a plain man's masterpiece of the sardonic. + </p> + <p> + 'What do you think of it?' said he, when he had done, and looked down at + Huish, flushed and serious, and yet jeering. + </p> + <p> + 'I'll tell you wot it is,' was the reply, 'you and me cut a pretty dicky + figure.' + </p> + <p> + 'That's so,' said Davis, 'a pretty measly figure, by God! And, by God, I + want to see that man at my knees.' + </p> + <p> + 'Ah!' said Huish. ''Ow to get him there?' + </p> + <p> + 'That's it!' cried Davis. 'How to get hold of him! They're four to two; + though there's only one man among them to count, and that's Attwater. Get + a bead on Attwater, and the others would cut and run and sing out like + frightened poultry—and old man Herrick would come round with his hat + for a share of the pearls. No, SIR! it's how to get hold of Attwater! And + we daren't even go ashore; he would shoot us in the boat like dogs.' + </p> + <p> + 'Are you particular about having him dead or alive?' asked Huish. + </p> + <p> + 'I want to see him dead,' said the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'Ah, well!' said Huish, 'then I believe I'll do a bit of breakfast.' + </p> + <p> + And he turned into the house. + </p> + <p> + The captain doggedly followed him. + </p> + <p> + 'What's this?' he asked. 'What's your idea, anyway?' + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, you let me alone, will you?' said Huish, opening a bottle of + champagne. 'You'll 'ear my idea soon enough. Wyte till I pour some chain + on my 'ot coppers.' He drank a glass off, and affected to listen. ''Ark!' + said he, ''ear it fizz. Like 'am fryin', I declyre. 'Ave a glass, do, and + look sociable.' + </p> + <p> + 'No!' said the captain, with emphasis; 'no, I will not! there's business.' + </p> + <p> + 'You p'ys your money and you tykes your choice, my little man,' returned + Huish. 'Seems rather a shyme to me to spoil your breakfast for wot's + really ancient 'istory.' + </p> + <p> + He finished three parts of a bottle of champagne, and nibbled a corner of + biscuit, with extreme deliberation; the captain sitting opposite and + champing the bit like an impatient horse. Then Huish leaned his arms on + the table and looked Davis in the face. + </p> + <p> + 'W'en you're ready!' said he. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, now, what's your idea?' said Davis, with a sigh. + </p> + <p> + 'Fair play!' said Huish. 'What's yours?' + </p> + <p> + 'The trouble is that I've got none,' replied Davis; and wandered for some + time in aimless discussion of the difficulties in their path, and useless + explanations of his own fiasco. + </p> + <p> + 'About done?' said Huish. + </p> + <p> + 'I'll dry up right here,' replied Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, then,' said Huish, 'you give me your 'and across the table, and + say, “Gawd strike me dead if I don't back you up.”' + </p> + <p> + His voice was hardly raised, yet it thrilled the hearer. His face seemed + the epitome of cunning, and the captain recoiled from it as from a blow. + </p> + <p> + 'What for?' said he. + </p> + <p> + 'Luck,' said Huish. 'Substantial guarantee demanded.' + </p> + <p> + And he continued to hold out his hand. + </p> + <p> + 'I don't see the good of any such tomfoolery,' said the other. + </p> + <p> + 'I do, though,' returned Huish. 'Gimme your 'and and say the words; then + you'll 'ear my view of it. Don't, and you won't.' + </p> + <p> + The captain went through the required form, breathing short, and gazing on + the clerk with anguish. What to fear, he knew not; yet he feared slavishly + what was to fall from the pale lips. + </p> + <p> + 'Now, if you'll excuse me 'alf a second,' said Huish, 'I'll go and fetch + the byby.' + </p> + <p> + 'The baby?' said Davis. 'What's that?' + </p> + <p> + 'Fragile. With care. This side up,' replied the clerk with a wink, as he + disappeared. + </p> + <p> + He returned, smiling to himself, and carrying in his hand a silk + handkerchief. The long stupid wrinkles ran up Davis's brow, as he saw it. + What should it contain? He could think of nothing more recondite than a + revolver. + </p> + <p> + Huish resumed his seat. + </p> + <p> + 'Now,' said he, 'are you man enough to take charge of 'Errick and the + niggers? Because I'll take care of Hattwater.' + </p> + <p> + 'How?' cried Davis. 'You can't!' + </p> + <p> + 'Tut, tut!' said the clerk. 'You gimme time. Wot's the first point? The + first point is that we can't get ashore, and I'll make you a present of + that for a 'ard one. But 'ow about a flag of truce? Would that do the + trick, d'ye think? or would Attwater simply blyze aw'y at us in the + bloomin' boat like dawgs?' + </p> + <p> + 'No,' said Davis, 'I don't believe he would.' + </p> + <p> + 'No more do I,' said Huish; 'I don't believe he would either; and I'm sure + I 'ope he won't! So then you can call us ashore. Next point is to get near + the managin' direction. And for that I'm going to 'ave you write a letter, + in w'ich you s'y you're ashamed to meet his eye, and that the bearer, Mr + J. L. 'Uish, is empowered to represent you. Armed with w'ich seemin'ly + simple expedient, Mr J. L. 'Uish will proceed to business.' + </p> + <p> + He paused, like one who had finished, but still held Davis with his eye. + </p> + <p> + 'How?' said Davis. 'Why?' + </p> + <p> + 'Well, you see, you're big,' returned Huish; ''e knows you 'ave a gun in + your pocket, and anybody can see with 'alf an eye that you ain't the man + to 'esitate about usin' it. So it's no go with you, and never was; you're + out of the runnin', Dyvis. But he won't be afryde of me, I'm such a little + un! I'm unarmed—no kid about that—and I'll hold my 'ands up + right enough.' He paused. 'If I can manage to sneak up nearer to him as we + talk,' he resumed, 'you look out and back me up smart. If I don't, we go + aw'y again, and nothink to 'urt. See?' + </p> + <p> + The captain's face was contorted by the frenzied effort to comprehend. + </p> + <p> + 'No, I don't see,' he cried, 'I can't see. What do you mean?' + </p> + <p> + 'I mean to do for the Beast!' cried Huish, in a burst of venomous triumph. + 'I'll bring the 'ulkin' bully to grass. He's 'ad his larks out of me; I'm + goin' to 'ave my lark out of 'im, and a good lark too!' + </p> + <p> + 'What is it?' said the captain, almost in a whisper. + </p> + <p> + 'Sure you want to know?' asked Huish. + </p> + <p> + Davis rose and took a turn in the house. + </p> + <p> + 'Yes, I want to know,' he said at last with an effort. + </p> + <p> + 'We'n you're back's at the wall, you do the best you can, don't you?' + began the clerk. 'I s'y that, because I 'appen to know there's a prejudice + against it; it's considered vulgar, awf'ly vulgar.' He unrolled the + handkerchief and showed a four-ounce jar. 'This 'ere's vitriol, this is,' + said he. + </p> + <p> + The captain stared upon him with a whitening face. + </p> + <p> + 'This is the stuff!' he pursued, holding it up. 'This'll burn to the bone; + you'll see it smoke upon 'im like 'ell fire! One drop upon 'is bloomin' + heyesight, and I'll trouble you for Attwater!' + </p> + <p> + 'No, no, by God!' exclaimed the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'Now, see 'ere, ducky,' said Huish, 'this is my bean feast, I believe? I'm + goin' up to that man single-'anded, I am. 'E's about seven foot high, and + I'm five foot one. 'E's a rifle in his 'and, 'e's on the look-out, 'e + wasn't born yesterday. This is Dyvid and Goliar, I tell you! If I'd ast + you to walk up and face the music I could understand. But I don't. I on'y + ast you to stand by and spifflicate the niggers. It'll all come in quite + natural; you'll see, else! Fust thing, you know, you'll see him running + round and owling like a good un...' + </p> + <p> + 'Don't!' said Davis. 'Don't talk of it!' + </p> + <p> + 'Well, you ARE a juggins!' exclaimed Huish. 'What did you want? You wanted + to kill him, and tried to last night. You wanted to kill the 'ole lot of + them and tried to, and 'ere I show you 'ow; and because there's some + medicine in a bottle you kick up this fuss!' + </p> + <p> + 'I suppose that's so,' said Davis. 'It don't seem someways reasonable, + only there it is.' + </p> + <p> + 'It's the happlication of science, I suppose?' sneered Huish. + </p> + <p> + 'I don't know what it is,' cried Davis, pacing the floor; 'it's there! I + draw the line at it. I can't put a finger to no such piggishness. It's too + damned hateful!' + </p> + <p> + 'And I suppose it's all your fancy pynted it,' said Huish, 'w'en you take + a pistol and a bit o' lead, and copse a man's brains all over him? No + accountin' for tystes.' + </p> + <p> + 'I'm not denying it,' said Davis, 'It's something here, inside of me. It's + foolishness; I dare say it's dam foolishness. I don't argue, I just draw + the line. Isn't there no other way?' + </p> + <p> + 'Look for yourself,' said Huish. 'I ain't wedded to this, if you think I + am; I ain't ambitious; I don't make a point of playin' the lead; I offer + to, that's all, and if you can't show me better, by Gawd, I'm goin' to!' + </p> + <p> + 'Then the risk!' cried Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'If you ast me straight, I should say it was a case of seven to one and no + takers,' said Huish. 'But that's my look-out, ducky, and I'm gyme, that's + wot I am: gyme all through.' + </p> + <p> + The captain looked at him. Huish sat there, preening his sinister vanity, + glorying in his precedency in evil; and the villainous courage and + readiness of the creature shone out of him like a candle from a lantern. + Dismay and a kind of respect seized hold on Davis in his own despite. + Until that moment, he had seen the clerk always hanging back, always + listless, uninterested, and openly grumbling at a word of anything to do; + and now, by the touch of an enchanter's wand, he beheld him sitting girt + and resolved, and his face radiant. He had raised the devil, he thought; + and asked who was to control him? and his spirits quailed. + </p> + <p> + 'Look as long as you like,' Huish was going on. 'You don't see any green + in my eye! I ain't afryde of Attwater, I ain't afryde of you, and I ain't + afryde of words. You want to kill people, that's wot YOU want; but you + want to do it in kid gloves, and it can't be done that w'y. Murder ain't + genteel, it ain't easy, it ain't safe, and it tykes a man to do it. 'Ere's + the man.' + </p> + <p> + 'Huish!' began the captain with energy; and then stopped, and remained + staring at him with corrugated brows. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, hout with it!' said Huish. ''Ave you anythink else to put up? Is + there any other chanst to try?' + </p> + <p> + The captain held his peace. + </p> + <p> + 'There you are then!' said Huish with a shrug. + </p> + <p> + Davis fell again to his pacing. + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, you may do sentry-go till you're blue in the mug, you won't find + anythink else,' said Huish. + </p> + <p> + There was a little silence; the captain, like a man launched on a swing, + flying dizzily among extremes of conjecture and refusal. + </p> + <p> + 'But see,' he said, suddenly pausing. 'Can you? Can the thing be done? It—it + can't be easy.' + </p> + <p> + 'If I get within twenty foot of 'im it'll be done; so you look out,' said + Huish, and his tone of certainty was absolute. + </p> + <p> + 'How can you know that?' broke from the captain in a choked cry. 'You + beast, I believe you've done it before!' + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, that's private affyres,' returned Huish, 'I ain't a talking man.' + </p> + <p> + A shock of repulsion struck and shook the captain; a scream rose almost to + his lips; had he uttered it, he might have cast himself at the same moment + on the body of Huish, might have picked him up, and flung him down, and + wiped the cabin with him, in a frenzy of cruelty that seemed half moral. + But the moment passed; and the abortive crisis left the man weaker. The + stakes were so high—the pearls on the one hand—starvation and + shame on the other. Ten years of pearls! The imagination of Davis + translated them into a new, glorified existence for himself and his + family. The seat of this new life must be in London; there were deadly + reasons against Portland, Maine; and the pictures that came to him were of + English manners. He saw his boys marching in the procession of a school, + with gowns on, an usher marshalling them and reading as he walked in a + great book. He was installed in a villa, semi-detached; the name, + Rosemore, on the gateposts. In a chair on the gravel walk, he seemed to + sit smoking a cigar, a blue ribbon in his buttonhole, victor over himself + and circumstances, and the malignity of bankers. He saw the parlour with + red curtains and shells on the mantelpiece—and with the fine + inconsistency of visions, mixed a grog at the mahogany table ere he turned + in. With that the Farallone gave one of the aimless and nameless movements + which (even in an anchored ship and even in the most profound calm) remind + one of the mobility of fluids; and he was back again under the cover of + the house, the fierce daylight besieging it all round and glaring in the + chinks, and the clerk in a rather airy attitude, awaiting his decision. + </p> + <p> + He began to walk again. He aspired after the realisation of these dreams, + like a horse nickering for water; the lust of them burned in his inside. + And the only obstacle was Attwater, who had insulted him from the first. + He gave Herrick a full share of the pearls, he insisted on it; Huish + opposed him, and he trod the opposition down; and praised himself + exceedingly. He was not going to use vitriol himself; was he Huish's + keeper? It was a pity he had asked, but after all!... he saw the boys + again in the school procession, with the gowns he had thought to be so + 'tony' long since... And at the same time the incomparable shame of the + last evening blazed up in his mind. + </p> + <p> + 'Have it your own way!' he said hoarsely. + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, I knew you would walk up,' said Huish. 'Now for the letter. There's + paper, pens and ink. Sit down and I'll dictyte.' + </p> + <p> + The captain took a seat and the pen, looked a while helplessly at the + paper, then at Huish. The swing had gone the other way; there was a blur + upon his eyes. 'It's a dreadful business,' he said, with a strong twitch + of his shoulders. + </p> + <p> + 'It's rather a start, no doubt,' said Huish. 'Tyke a dip of ink. That's + it. William John Hattwater, Esq., Sir': he dictated. + </p> + <p> + 'How do you know his name is William John?' asked Davis. + </p> + <p> + 'Saw it on a packing case,' said Huish. 'Got that?' + </p> + <p> + 'No,' said Davis. 'But there's another thing. What are we to write?' + </p> + <p> + 'O my golly!' cried the exasperated Huish. 'Wot kind of man do YOU call + yourself? I'M goin' to tell you wot to write; that's my pitch; if you'll + just be so bloomin' condescendin' as to write it down! WILLIAM JOHN + ATTWATER, ESQ., SIR': he reiterated. And the captain at last beginning + half mechanically to move his pen, the dictation proceeded: + </p> + <p> + It is with feelings of shyme and 'artfelt contrition that I approach you + after the yumiliatin' events of last night. Our Mr 'Errick has left the + ship, and will have doubtless communicated to you the nature of our 'opes. + Needless to s'y, these are no longer possible: Fate 'as declyred against + us, and we bow the 'ead. Well awyre as I am of the just suspicions with + w'ich I am regarded, I do not venture to solicit the fyvour of an + interview for myself, but in order to put an end to a situytion w'ich must + be equally pyneful to all, I 'ave deputed my friend and partner, Mr J. L. + Huish, to l'y before you my proposals, and w'ich by their moderytion, + Will, I trust, be found to merit your attention. Mr J. L. Huish is + entirely unarmed, I swear to Gawd! and will 'old 'is 'ands over 'is 'ead + from the moment he begins to approach you. I am your fytheful servant, + John Davis. + </p> + <p> + Huish read the letter with the innocent joy of amateurs, chuckled + gustfully to himself, and reopened it more than once after it was folded, + to repeat the pleasure; Davis meanwhile sitting inert and heavily + frowning. + </p> + <p> + Of a sudden he rose; he seemed all abroad. 'No!' he cried. 'No! it can't + be! It's too much; it's damnation. God would never forgive it.' + </p> + <p> + 'Well, and 'oo wants Him to?' returned Huish, shrill with fury. 'You were + damned years ago for the Sea Rynger, and said so yourself. Well then, be + damned for something else, and 'old your tongue.' + </p> + <p> + The captain looked at him mistily. 'No,' he pleaded, 'no, old man! don't + do it.' + </p> + <p> + ''Ere now,' said Huish, 'I'll give you my ultimytum. Go or st'y w'ere you + are; I don't mind; I'm goin' to see that man and chuck this vitriol in his + eyes. If you st'y I'll go alone; the niggers will likely knock me on the + 'ead, and a fat lot you'll be the better! But there's one thing sure: I'll + 'ear no more of your moonin', mullygrubbin' rot, and tyke it stryte.' + </p> + <p> + The captain took it with a blink and a gulp. Memory, with phantom voices, + repeated in his cars something similar, something he had once said to + Herrick—years ago it seemed. + </p> + <p> + 'Now, gimme over your pistol,' said Huish. 'I 'ave to see all clear. Six + shots, and mind you don't wyste them.' + </p> + <p> + The captain, like a man in a nightmare, laid down his revolver on the + table, and Huish wiped the cartridges and oiled the works. + </p> + <p> + It was close on noon, there was no breath of wind, and the heat was scarce + bearable, when the two men came on deck, had the boat manned, and passed + down, one after another, into the stern-sheets. A white shirt at the end + of an oar served as a flag of truce; and the men, by direction, and to + give it the better chance to be observed, pulled with extreme slowness. + The isle shook before them like a place incandescent; on the face of the + lagoon blinding copper suns, no bigger than sixpences, danced and stabbed + them in the eyeballs; there went up from sand and sea, and even from the + boat, a glare of scathing brightness; and as they could only peer abroad + from between closed lashes, the excess of light seemed to be changed into + a sinister darkness, comparable to that of a thundercloud before it + bursts. + </p> + <p> + The captain had come upon this errand for any one of a dozen reasons, the + last of which was desire for its success. Superstition rules all men; + semi-ignorant and gross natures, like that of Davis, it rules utterly. For + murder he had been prepared; but this horror of the medicine in the bottle + went beyond him, and he seemed to himself to be parting the last strands + that united him to God. The boat carried him on to reprobation, to + damnation; and he suffered himself to be carried passively consenting, + silently bidding farewell to his better self and his hopes. Huish sat by + his side in towering spirits that were not wholly genuine. Perhaps as + brave a man as ever lived, brave as a weasel, he must still reassure + himself with the tones of his own voice; he must play his part to + exaggeration, he must out-Herod Herod, insult all that was respectable, + and brave all that was formidable, in a kind of desperate wager with + himself. + </p> + <p> + 'Golly, but it's 'ot!' said he. 'Cruel 'ot, I call it. Nice d'y to get + your gruel in! I s'y, you know, it must feel awf'ly peculiar to get bowled + over on a d'y like this. I'd rather 'ave it on a cowld and frosty morning, + wouldn't you? (Singing) “'Ere we go round the mulberry bush on a cowld and + frosty mornin'.” (Spoken) Give you my word, I 'aven't thought o' that in + ten year; used to sing it at a hinfant school in 'Ackney, 'Ackney Wick it + was. (Singing) “This is the way the tyler does, the tyler does.” (Spoken) + Bloomin' 'umbug. 'Ow are you off now, for the notion of a future styte? Do + you cotton to the tea-fight views, or the old red 'ot boguey business?' + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, dry up!' said the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'No, but I want to know,' said Huish. 'It's within the sp'ere of practical + politics for you and me, my boy; we may both be bowled over, one up, + t'other down, within the next ten minutes. It would be rather a lark, now, + if you only skipped across, came up smilin' t'other side, and a hangel met + you with a B. and S. under his wing. 'Ullo, you'd s'y: come, I tyke this + kind.' + </p> + <p> + The captain groaned. While Huish was thus airing and exercising his + bravado, the man at his side was actually engaged in prayer. Prayer, what + for? God knows. But out of his inconsistent, illogical, and agitated + spirit, a stream of supplication was poured forth, inarticulate as + himself, earnest as death and judgment. + </p> + <p> + 'Thou Gawd seest me!' continued Huish. 'I remember I had that written in + my Bible. I remember the Bible too, all about Abinadab and parties. Well, + Gawd!' apostrophising the meridian, 'you're goin' to see a rum start + presently, I promise you that!' + </p> + <p> + The captain bounded. + </p> + <p> + 'I'll have no blasphemy!' he cried, 'no blasphemy in my boat.' + </p> + <p> + 'All right, cap,' said Huish. 'Anythink to oblige. Any other topic you + would like to sudgest, the rynegyge, the lightnin' rod, Shykespeare, or + the musical glasses? 'Ere's conversation on a tap. Put a penny in the + slot, and... 'ullo! 'ere they are!' he cried. 'Now or never is 'e goin' to + shoot?' + </p> + <p> + And the little man straightened himself into an alert and dashing + attitude, and looked steadily at the enemy. But the captain rose half up + in the boat with eyes protruding. + </p> + <p> + 'What's that?' he cried. + </p> + <p> + 'Wot's wot?' said Huish. + </p> + <p> + 'Those—blamed things,' said the captain. + </p> + <p> + And indeed it was something strange. Herrick and Attwater, both armed with + Winchesters, had appeared out of the grove behind the figure-head; and to + either hand of them, the sun glistened upon two metallic objects, + locomotory like men, and occupying in the economy of these creatures the + places of heads—only the heads were faceless. To Davis between wind + and water, his mythology appeared to have come alive, and Tophet to be + vomiting demons. But Huish was not mystified a moment. + </p> + <p> + 'Divers' 'elmets, you ninny. Can't you see?' he said. + </p> + <p> + 'So they are,' said Davis, with a gasp. 'And why? Oh, I see, it's for + armour.' + </p> + <p> + 'Wot did I tell you?' said Huish. 'Dyvid and Goliar all the w'y and back.' + </p> + <p> + The two natives (for they it was that were equipped in this unusual + panoply of war) spread out to right and left, and at last lay down in the + shade, on the extreme flank of the position. Even now that the mystery was + explained, Davis was hatefully preoccupied, stared at the flame on their + crests, and forgot, and then remembered with a smile, the explanation. + </p> + <p> + Attwater withdrew again into the grove, and Herrick, with his gun under + his arm, came down the pier alone. + </p> + <p> + About half-way down he halted and hailed the boat. + </p> + <p> + 'What do you want?' he cried. + </p> + <p> + 'I'll tell that to Mr Attwater,' replied Huish, stepping briskly on the + ladder. 'I don't tell it to you, because you played the trucklin' sneak. + Here's a letter for him: tyke it, and give it, and be 'anged to you!' + </p> + <p> + 'Davis, is this all right?' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + Davis raised his chin, glanced swiftly at Herrick and away again, and held + his peace. The glance was charged with some deep emotion, but whether of + hatred or of fear, it was beyond Herrick to divine. + </p> + <p> + 'Well,' he said, 'I'll give the letter.' He drew a score with his foot on + the boards of the gangway. 'Till I bring the answer, don't move a step + past this.' + </p> + <p> + And he returned to where Attwater leaned against a tree, and gave him the + letter. Attwater glanced it through. + </p> + <p> + 'What does that mean?' he asked, passing it to Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Treachery?' + </p> + <p> + 'Oh, I suppose so!' said Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Well, tell him to come on,' said Attwater. 'One isn't a fatalist for + nothing. Tell him to come on and to look out.' + </p> + <p> + Herrick returned to the figure-head. Half-way down the pier the clerk was + waiting, with Davis by his side. + </p> + <p> + 'You are to come along, Huish,' said Herrick. 'He bids you look out, no + tricks.' + </p> + <p> + Huish walked briskly up the pier, and paused face to face with the young + man. + </p> + <p> + 'W'ere is 'e?' said he, and to Herrick's surprise, the low-bred, + insignificant face before him flushed suddenly crimson and went white + again. + </p> + <p> + 'Right forward,' said Herrick, pointing. 'Now your hands above your head.' + </p> + <p> + The clerk turned away from him and towards the figure-head, as though he + were about to address to it his devotions; he was seen to heave a deep + breath; and raised his arms. In common with many men of his unhappy + physical endowments, Huish's hands were disproportionately long and broad, + and the palms in particular enormous; a four-ounce jar was nothing in that + capacious fist. The next moment he was plodding steadily forward on his + mission. + </p> + <p> + Herrick at first followed. Then a noise in his rear startled him, and he + turned about to find Davis already advanced as far as the figure-head. He + came, crouching and open-mouthed, as the mesmerised may follow the + mesmeriser; all human considerations, and even the care of his own life, + swallowed up in one abominable and burning curiosity. + </p> + <p> + 'Halt!' cried Herrick, covering him with his rifle. 'Davis, what are you + doing, man? YOU are not to come.' + </p> + <p> + Davis instinctively paused, and regarded him with a dreadful vacancy of + eye. + </p> + <p> + 'Put your back to that figure-head, do you hear me? and stand fast!' said + Herrick. + </p> + <p> + The captain fetched a breath, stepped back against the figure-head, and + instantly redirected his glances after Huish. + </p> + <p> + There was a hollow place of the sand in that part, and, as it were, a + glade among the cocoa palms in which the direct noonday sun blazed + intolerably. At the far end, in the shadow, the tall figure of Attwater + was to be seen leaning on a tree; towards him, with his hands over his + head, and his steps smothered in the sand, the clerk painfully waded. The + surrounding glare threw out and exaggerated the man's smallness; it seemed + no less perilous an enterprise, this that he was gone upon, than for a + whelp to besiege a citadel. + </p> + <p> + 'There, Mr Whish. That will do,' cried Attwater. 'From that distance, and + keeping your hands up, like a good boy, you can very well put me in + possession of the skipper's views.' + </p> + <p> + The interval betwixt them was perhaps forty feet; and Huish measured it + with his eye, and breathed a curse. He was already distressed with + labouring in the loose sand, and his arms ached bitterly from their + unnatural position. In the palm of his right hand, the jar was ready; and + his heart thrilled, and his voice choked as he began to speak. + </p> + <p> + 'Mr Hattwater,' said he, 'I don't know if ever you 'ad a mother...' + </p> + <p> + 'I can set your mind at rest: I had,' returned Attwater; 'and henceforth, + if I might venture to suggest it, her name need not recur in our + communications. I should perhaps tell you that I am not amenable to the + pathetic.' + </p> + <p> + 'I am sorry, sir, if I 'ave seemed to tresparse on your private feelin's,' + said the clerk, cringing and stealing a step. 'At least, sir, you will + never pe'suade me that you are not a perfec' gentleman; I know a gentleman + when I see him; and as such, I 'ave no 'esitation in throwin' myself on + your merciful consideration. It IS 'ard lines, no doubt; it's 'ard lines + to have to hown yourself beat; it's 'ard lines to 'ave to come and beg to + you for charity.' + </p> + <p> + 'When, if things had only gone right, the whole place was as good as your + own?' suggested Attwater. 'I can understand the feeling.' + </p> + <p> + 'You are judging me, Mr Attwater,' said the clerk, 'and God knows how + unjustly! THOU GAWD SEEST ME, was the tex' I 'ad in my Bible, w'ich my + father wrote it in with 'is own 'and upon the fly leaft.' + </p> + <p> + 'I am sorry I have to beg your pardon once more,' said Attwater; 'but, do + you know, you seem to me to be a trifle nearer, which is entirely outside + of our bargain. And I would venture to suggest that you take one—two—three—steps + back; and stay there.' + </p> + <p> + The devil, at this staggering disappointment, looked out of Huish's face, + and Attwater was swift to suspect. He frowned, he stared on the little + man, and considered. Why should he be creeping nearer? The next moment, + his gun was at his shoulder. + </p> + <p> + 'Kindly oblige me by opening your hands. Open your hands wide—let me + see the fingers spread, you dog—throw down that thing you're + holding!' he roared, his rage and certitude increasing together. + </p> + <p> + And then, at almost the same moment, the indomitable Huish decided to + throw, and Attwater pulled the trigger. There was scarce the difference of + a second between the two resolves, but it was in favour of the man with + the rifle; and the jar had not yet left the clerk's hand, before the ball + shattered both. For the twinkling of an eye the wretch was in hell's + agonies, bathed in liquid flames, a screaming bedlamite; and then a second + and more merciful bullet stretched him dead. + </p> + <p> + The whole thing was come and gone in a breath. Before Herrick could turn + about, before Davis could complete his cry of horror, the clerk lay in the + sand, sprawling and convulsed. + </p> + <p> + Attwater ran to the body; he stooped and viewed it; he put his finger in + the vitriol, and his face whitened and hardened with anger. + </p> + <p> + Davis had not yet moved; he stood astonished, with his back to the + figure-head, his hands clutching it behind him, his body inclined forward + from the waist. + </p> + <p> + Attwater turned deliberately and covered him with his rifle. + </p> + <p> + 'Davis,' he cried, in a voice like a trumpet, 'I give you sixty seconds to + make your peace with God!' + </p> + <p> + Davis looked, and his mind awoke. He did not dream of self-defence, he did + not reach for his pistol. He drew himself up instead to face death, with a + quivering nostril. + </p> + <p> + 'I guess I'll not trouble the Old Man,' he said; 'considering the job I + was on, I guess it's better business to just shut my face.' + </p> + <p> + Attwater fired; there came a spasmodic movement of the victim, and + immediately above the middle of his forehead, a black hole marred the + whiteness of the figure-head. A dreadful pause; then again the report, and + the solid sound and jar of the bullet in the wood; and this time the + captain had felt the wind of it along his cheek. A third shot, and he was + bleeding from one ear; and along the levelled rifle Attwater smiled like a + Red Indian. + </p> + <p> + The cruel game of which he was the puppet was now clear to Davis; three + times he had drunk of death, and he must look to drink of it seven times + more before he was despatched. He held up his hand. + </p> + <p> + 'Steady!' he cried; 'I'll take your sixty seconds.' + </p> + <p> + 'Good!' said Attwater. + </p> + <p> + The captain shut his eyes tight like a child: he held his hands up at last + with a tragic and ridiculous gesture. + </p> + <p> + 'My God, for Christ's sake, look after my two kids,' he said; and then, + after a pause and a falter, 'for Christ's sake, Amen.' + </p> + <p> + And he opened his eyes and looked down the rifle with a quivering mouth. + </p> + <p> + 'But don't keep fooling me long!' he pleaded. + </p> + <p> + 'That's all your prayer?' asked Attwater, with a singular ring in his + voice. + </p> + <p> + 'Guess so,' said Davis. + </p> + <p> + So?' said Attwater, resting the butt of his rifle on the ground, 'is that + done? Is your peace made with Heaven? Because it is with me. Go, and sin + no more, sinful father. And remember that whatever you do to others, God + shall visit it again a thousand-fold upon your innocents.' + </p> + <p> + The wretched Davis came staggering forward from his place against the + figure-head, fell upon his knees, and waved his hands, and fainted. + </p> + <p> + When he came to himself again, his head was on Attwater's arm, and close + by stood one of the men in divers' helmets, holding a bucket of water, + from which his late executioner now laved his face. The memory of that + dreadful passage returned upon him in a clap; again he saw Huish lying + dead, again he seemed to himself to totter on the brink of an unplumbed + eternity. With trembling hands he seized hold of the man whom he had come + to slay; and his voice broke from him like that of a child among the + nightmares of fever: 'O! isn't there no mercy? O! what must I do to be + saved?' + </p> + <p> + 'Ah!' thought Attwater, 'here's the true penitent.' + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter 12. TAIL-PIECE + </h2> + <p> + On a very bright, hot, lusty, strongly blowing noon, a fortnight after the + events recorded, and a month since the curtain rose upon this episode, a + man might have been spied, praying on the sand by the lagoon beach. A + point of palm trees isolated him from the settlement; and from the place + where he knelt, the only work of man's hand that interrupted the expanse, + was the schooner Farallone, her berth quite changed, and rocking at anchor + some two miles to windward in the midst of the lagoon. The noise of the + Trade ran very boisterous in all parts of the island; the nearer palm + trees crashed and whistled in the gusts, those farther off contributed a + humming bass like the roar of cities; and yet, to any man less absorbed, + there must have risen at times over this turmoil of the winds, the sharper + note of the human voice from the settlement. There all was activity. + Attwater, stripped to his trousers and lending a strong hand of help, was + directing and encouraging five Kanakas; from his lively voice, and their + more lively efforts, it was to be gathered that some sudden and joyful + emergency had set them in this bustle; and the Union Jack floated once + more on its staff. But the suppliant on the beach, unconscious of their + voices, prayed on with instancy and fervour, and the sound of his voice + rose and fell again, and his countenance brightened and was deformed with + changing moods of piety and terror. + </p> + <p> + Before his closed eyes, the skiff had been for some time tacking towards + the distant and deserted Farallone; and presently the figure of Herrick + might have been observed to board her, to pass for a while into the house, + thence forward to the forecastle, and at last to plunge into the main + hatch. In all these quarters, his visit was followed by a coil of smoke; + and he had scarce entered his boat again and shoved off, before flames + broke forth upon the schooner. They burned gaily; kerosene had not been + spared, and the bellows of the Trade incited the conflagration. About half + way on the return voyage, when Herrick looked back, he beheld the + Farallone wrapped to the topmasts in leaping arms of fire, and the + voluminous smoke pursuing him along the face of the lagoon. In one hour's + time, he computed, the waters would have closed over the stolen ship. + </p> + <p> + It so chanced that, as his boat flew before the wind with much vivacity, + and his eyes were continually busy in the wake, measuring the progress of + the flames, he found himself embayed to the northward of the point of + palms, and here became aware at the same time of the figure of Davis + immersed in his devotion. An exclamation, part of annoyance, part of + amusement, broke from him: and he touched the helm and ran the prow upon + the beach not twenty feet from the unconscious devotee. Taking the painter + in his hand, he landed, and drew near, and stood over him. And still the + voluble and incoherent stream of prayer continued unabated. It was not + possible for him to overhear the suppliant's petitions, which he listened + to some while in a very mingled mood of humour and pity: and it was only + when his own name began to occur and to be conjoined with epithets, that + he at last laid his hand on the captain's shoulder. + </p> + <p> + 'Sorry to interrupt the exercise,' said he; 'but I want you to look at the + Farallone.' + </p> + <p> + The captain scrambled to his feet, and stood gasping and staring. 'Mr + Herrick, don't startle a man like that!' he said. 'I don't seem someways + rightly myself since...' he broke off. 'What did you say anyway? O, the + Farallone,' and he looked languidly out. + </p> + <p> + 'Yes,' said Herrick. 'There she burns! and you may guess from that what + the news is.' + </p> + <p> + 'The Trinity Hall, I guess,' said the captain. + </p> + <p> + 'The same,' said Herrick; 'sighted half an hour ago, and coming up hand + over fist.' + </p> + <p> + 'Well, it don't amount to a hill of beans,' said the captain with a sigh. + </p> + <p> + 'O, come, that's rank ingratitude!' cried Herrick. + </p> + <p> + 'Well,' replied the captain, meditatively, 'you mayn't just see the way + that I view it in, but I'd 'most rather stay here upon this island. I + found peace here, peace in believing. Yes, I guess this island is about + good enough for John Davis.' + </p> + <p> + 'I never heard such nonsense!' cried Herrick. 'What! with all turning out + in your favour the way it does, the Farallone wiped out, the crew disposed + of, a sure thing for your wife and family, and you, yourself, Attwater's + spoiled darling and pet penitent!' + </p> + <p> + 'Now, Mr Herrick, don't say that,' said the captain gently; 'when you know + he don't make no difference between us. But, O! why not be one of us? why + not come to Jesus right away, and let's meet in yon beautiful land? That's + just the one thing wanted; just say, Lord, I believe, help thou mine + unbelief! And He'll fold you in His arms. You see, I know! I've been a + sinner myself!' + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ebb-Tide, by +Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyde Osbourne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EBB-TIDE *** + +***** This file should be named 1604-h.htm or 1604-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/0/1604/ + +Produced by Dianne Bean, and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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